BEFORE: I don't know much about this film - other than Nicholson, the connection is Bob Rafelson, writer/director of this film, and writer/producer on both "Easy Rider" and "Five Easy Pieces". He also directed a bunch of Monkees TV episodes, so if you're wondering how Jack ended up in the movie "Head", blame this guy. The title has a nice autumn-y feel to it, but honestly I'm thinking about beer tonight - the historic 200th Oktoberfest is taking place in Munich, and NYC Craft Beer Week starts in 2 days - I missed it twice before, so this year I'm determined to go to several beerfests and beer dinners.
THE PLOT: Nicholson is a wealthy wine dealer who has distanced himself from his wife with his philandering and from his stepson with his negligence. After he steals a diamond necklace with the help of a safecracker partner, Victor, things start coming apart.
AFTER: I didn't realize this was a "heist" movie, and an average one at that. There were many plot elements that seemed very contrived, almost unbelievable. Why does she pack her son's hat in the zippered pocket of the suitcase? (so he can accidentally discover the jewels) Why does Michael Caine's character have a persistent cough throughout? (so he will need to pause and cough at a critical time) Why does everyone seem to leave their golf clubs lying around, within arm's reach? (so there's always a weapon handy)
The seams of the plot are showing, and that's never a good thing. You can see where the pieces of ideas got stitched together, and it should flow a lot better. It's a classic move to have a love triangle, but having the older man be the stepfather of the younger man seems a little too coincidental, too.
I will say that there was an exciting climax, and it was a little interesting to see how the relationships between the major characters brought about a scenario where it seemed that nobody WANTED the jewels, or even knew what to do with them. So why steal them? What was the point of this little criminal enterprise? I love a good double-cross or even triple-cross movie, but you shouldn't be able to see the betrayals coming.
Also starring Michael Caine (last seen in "The Prestige"), Stephen Dorff (last seen in "Public Enemies"), Judy Davis (last seen in "Absolute Power"), Harold Perrineau (last seen in "Romeo and Juliet") and future American Idol judge Jennifer Lopez (last seen in "Money Train"). And frequent character actor Mike Starr (last seen in "The Hudsucker Proxy") as a security guard.
RATING: 4 out of 10 houseboats
JACK-O-METER: 5 out of 10. A couple good Nicholson shout-outs, one that almost calls to mind his yelling at Ann-Margret in "Carnal Knowledge" (I'm out there in the jungle 8 hours a day!) but mostly he's pretty stone-cold here. He gets hit a few too many times with golf clubs, too - he should be the one doing the clubbing!
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