After Dark, My Sweet (1990)

If you like the twisted, amoral characters that inhabit the world of pulp novelist Jim Thompson, you're going to love After Dark, My Sweet, one of the most faithful of many Thompson adaptations. Protagonist Kevin "Kid" Collins (Jason Patric), called "Collie" by those attracted to his shaggy dog side, escapes from a mental hospital and shuffles into a lonely desert town (and Patric really has the gait of a former pugilist down). Enter widow Fay Anderson (Rachel Ward), with legs that could stop a truck and a half-baked scheme to kidnap the scion of a rich family, which she's dreamed up with her unctuous and untrustworthy Uncle Bud (Bruce Dern), and it's the beginning of the end for the likable Kid.

After Dark, My Sweet is a film about judging people. No one is who they seem. Only by guessing their true intentions can Collins have a chance to survive. The film also has brilliant performances by the three leads, especially Dern, whose Uncle Bud is delightfully unhinged. Director James Foley (Glengarry Glen Ross, The Corruptor) is subtly adept at fleshing out the characters and their ambiguities, which solves the problem inherent in adapting Thompson's sleazy tales--namely, that much of the drama is internal, and therefore unfilmable). --Wayne Karrfalt Amazon.com

After Dark My Sweet

Excellent and entertaining movie with fine acting by J. Patrick, R. Ward, and B. Dern. The widescreen DVD has very good picture and sound. September 3, 2008

pulp fiction

Jason Patric is memorable as a drifting, washed up boxer who gets caught up as the patsy in a disasterous kidnapping scheme. Patric's only fault could be that he's a bit too pretty as he's a good actor and like others have said below it's a shame that he hasn't been seen in more films. Rachel Ward makes a believable alcoholic femme fatale but I couldn't help but think of Jessica Lange playing the part as the role seems tailor-made for her.

Over-all this was a great little film, very film-noir, so much so that it almost seemed strange to be watching it in color, so it didn't surprise me at all to learn from the other reviews that the story was actually from a 50's pulp novel of the same name. I can't speak for the novel but in the films case this title doesn't fit at all but it's good to see that it's not being forgotten.

January 1, 2008

A great little film noir

Film noir focuses on desperate people doing desperate things. And that is exactly what this movie entails.
Others have gone over the plot here so I will not do that. I will say that all actors did exceedingly well in what can be very difficult roles to play. They all acted off each other in a believable manner.
Bruce Dern was never seedier than he is with this character. Jason Patric and Rachel Ward also excel at thier characters.
What is decieving here is the setting....somewhere in the southwest, desert area. Film noir is typically dark and shadowy but here there is lots of sunlight. It takes the focus off the setting and puts it on the plot, which I found to be an interesting twist and quite effective.
In the heat, the emotions bubble over. Lust, greed, deception, lies, mistrust and paranoia all play out in layer upon layer and is accented by Jason Patric's character very effectively.
For those who like film noir with a twist you will certainly like this little known gem. It is immediately captivating and magnetic. I don't know how I missed it on it's original release but certainly glad I caught up to it. Take a chance folks... you won't be disappointed. February 20, 2007

Jim Thompson on film--and punchy!

Very nice piece of work with strong casting. How can you do better than have Bruce Dern play an ex-cop sleazeball? Or Rachel Ward as a dangerous femme fatale? Or Jason Patric as a semi-addled former boxer with smoldering sexuality?

Answer: you CAN'T. Yep, we're in Jim Thompson land--aka Desperation City, and each one of these three characters has some kind of desperation going on, as do just about all of Thompson's characters. This is neo-noir at its best; you reduce the story down to fundamental elements and have James Foley directing--a rock solid director--and you got yourself one humdinger of a flick.

So yeah, there's sex and violence and yeah, they both come out of Desperation. Oh yeah. The flashbacks of Patric (as Kevin Collins), a former boxer, when he was in the ring, add just the right element for cementing the story and its Thompsonesque flavor. So there's a planned heist and stuff, but the formula isn't important. What's important is the atmosphere, the acting, the emotional punch on display. And it's definitely here.

Great piece of work. Go for it. September 14, 2006

An Underrated, Relatively-Unknown Noir

Intense actors like Bruce Dern, Jason Patrick and Rachel Ward combine to make this modern-day film noir a winner. Of the three, I don't know who was most interesting as all offer good performances and intriguing characters.

Patric does the narration in this noir, playing an ex-boxer and mental patient. Wow, that alone makes for an interesting guy! He looks dumb, but he isn't. Ward is the slinky, attractive, cynical, intelligent and compassionate co- conspirator of a kidnapping plan that goes bad. Bruce Dern also is in the mix and Dern never fails to fascinate in about any film.

The movie could be considered kind of downer to the average viewer, but I found it fascinating....and I don't like depressing movies normally. What I found was a kind of quirky crime film. Take a look and see if you agree. This is pretty unknown film that shouldn't have that status because it's simply a good story and well-done.
April 26, 2006

More reviews at Amazon.com ...