Jennifer 8 (1992)

A second look reveals some exit-wound-size holes in the plot, but there's nothing second-rate about the performances or the pacing of this serial-killer whodunit written and directed by Bruce Robinson (Withnail and I, The Killing Fields). Andy Garcia plays a cop whose failed marriage and recent spell with the bottle has brought him upstate from L.A to live near his half-sister (Kathy Baker) and one-time partner (Lance Henriksen). But he has barely unpacked his bags when a routine homicide call takes him to a spectacular local dump. There, amid heaps of detective-movie typewriters and colorful bags of garbage, he kicks up a severed hand. This leads him to reopen an unsolved psycho-killer file--codename "Jennifer"--that in turn reopens some old sores in the department. In the noir tradition, Garcia falls hard for his key witness, who happens to be blind (Uma Thurman, playing against the luster Pulp Fiction would Monroe-ize two years later) and in one stroke puts her life, and his career, in exquisite jeopardy. The plot weaves in and out of logic, but the dialogue track keeps you leaning in for the details. Along with the taut and suggestive work by Garcia and Henriksen (as usual, all skull beneath the skin), Jennifer 8 boasts a giddy-to-behold gargoyle performance from John Malkovich as an internal affairs cop whose head cold only sharpens the resentment he feels listening to rogue cops insult his intelligence. --Lyall Bush Amazon.com

Shows Thurman's promise early.

Jennifer 8 (Widescreen Edition) This early work of Uma Thurman displays her talent. For a really early example of course there was Dangerous Liaisons. Terrific work as blind woman comfortable in familiar surroundings and helpless in unfamiliar ones. February 9, 2008

Intelligent and Visually Gorgeous Effort

As many of my fellow reviewers have noted in their reviews, this is a very understated, and underrated, thriller in the film noir tradition. Andy Garcia's character, to me, perfectly personified a police officer who'd had too many ugly years on the job, giving him a varnish of cynicism and brusqueness that translated into impatience with his new co-workers and surprising gentleness for his new star witness. Uma Thurman was terrific as a blind student who may or may not have something to add to the possible serial killer Garcia's character has discovered. Her personification of a blind woman - the way she didn't focus her eyes, her fumbling hands - were sensitively done and, to me anyway, perfect. The scenery and camerawork are beautiful and juxtapose wonderfully with the violence and chase scenes. However, am I the only reviewer who noticed that John Malkovich plays a dual role in this movie? He is the aggressive, sarcastic IA investigator who hammers Garcia's character, but he is ALSO the mentally challenged janitor. You know, the creepy one who is in the bathroom with Uma in that scene where she thinks she's alone, undresses and gets in the tub, completely in the dark (literally and figuratively.) For sheer creepiness, that scene alone gets a 5-star rating. The rest gets 4 stars, mainly due to a couple of plot holes that are never tied up at the end. Stellar performances from Garcia, Thurman, Malkovich and the rest of them. November 5, 2006

Double Johns

A superb thriller much maligned when first released, "Jennifer8" is first rate on all counts: acting (who plays conflicted, emotional, intelligent better than Andy Garcia? who plays sensitive yet powerful better than Uma Thurman?), directing and writing (Bruce Robinson's only directing credit...but this is the man who acted in Zefferelli's "Romeo and Juliet," wrote the screenplay for "The Killing Fields" and was the object of Isabelle Adjani's obsession in "The Story of Adele H").
The plot involves a serial killer, a beautiful blind woman (Uma), a Los Angeles police officer (Garcia) who, for mysterious reasons, decides to move to Eureka, California and a series of 7 murders. Director/writer Robinson keeps tight rein on all of the various plot points and also extracts truthful performances out of all.
"Jennifer8" is a must see for anyone interested in the fine art of the American thriller. It is primo entertainment: intelligent, suspenseful and adult.
February 26, 2006

Excellent Ending

A burnt out cop, played by Andy Garcia returns to the small home town he was trained in. Before he even starts work body pieces are turning up in the local dump. The pieces lead him to a previous cold case titled Jennifer but no one else sees the links. Then the table completely turns and he's the one being investigated.

This is a suspenseful chaser. I was disappointed John Malkovich didn't show up until more than half way through the film. His interchanges with Garcia were right on but then Malkovich can work with anyone.

There was a creepy scene with Uma Thurman, the blind witness when she undresses and crawls into the bathtub. Unbeknownst to her is an intruder in the room taking pictures of her.

I was thrilled with the total twist at the ending. It was worth it. November 25, 2005

OVERLOOKED THRILLER

Generally overlooked in is initial release, JENNIFER 8 is a suspenseful, tense and superbly acted thriller, heavy on atmosphere and intricate plotting. Andy Garcia heats up the screen as an LA cop who relocates to a more serene environment in Eureka, California. Not so serene, however, when he finds himself looking into an open serial killer case. Lance Henriksen eschews his usual villainous role to play Garcia's friend and partner who doesn't know what to make of Garcia's obsession with the apparently unsolveable case. Uma Thurman is graceful as the blind Helena, who Garcia feels is in jeopardy as a possible witness. Kathy Baker gives a controlled, effective performance as Lance's understanding and loving wife. John Malkovich is brilliant in his brief but overwhelming role as as the internal affairs officer who wants to nail Garcia for murder. The killer's identity is surprising and it has a real twist of a climax. Recommended. November 15, 2005

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