Friday, October 21, 2016

Movie review - "Nowhere to Run" (1993) **

Made during Jean Claude Van Damme's great period of stardom (okay maybe you shouldn't call it "great" but at his peak) - this one isn't as well remembered as others today. Partly, I think, because the concept is so generic and bland: he's an escaped con who winds up at the farm of a widowed mother of two (Rosanna Arquette) who is fighting off evil property developers (led by Joss Ackland). Property developers were getting tired in the 1980s on TV; in 90s action cinema they were comatose.

The relationship between Van Damme and Rosanna Arquette is quite strong; Arquette is a skilled actor, really helping lift those scenes. Everyone knows Van Damme's limitations, but he is sensitive and has a good look. Arquette does a surprising amount of nude scenes - a sex scene too where she's topless and Jean Claude has his hands on her boobs and he's nuzzling away. Was she forced to do this? Was she into it? I kind of felt sorry for her.

The relationship between Van Damme and the kids felt a little undercooked, though Kieran Culkin isn't bad as the boy. Ted Levine is a strong villain sidekick. Ackland is good too - it's just the nature of his villainy is so tired. The character of the cop in love with Arquette looks as though he's about to do something interesting but never does. There's a few decent action scenes - probably not enough.

It's an odd film. A bit of action, a bit of drama, some Western homage. They probably would've been better off making it more of a Van Damme film. 

Joe Eszterhas co wrote it. I'd love to know how the project developed and changed. It's not a dog. Just average.

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