In principle, Linda Fiorentino could be considered no less fatal beauty, like Sharon Stone. Yes, with the main star of “Basic Instinct” in terms of candid scenes, few people can compare, but Fiorentino also regularly naked and played herself in bed episodes, as well as in “The Last Seduction”.
Bridgetie Gregory (Fiorentino) decides to teach her husband Clay Gregory (Bill Pullman) a lesson after he raised his hand on her. Although this circumstance was only a pretext, for Bridget hatched her plan for a long time. She forced her husband to steal money from influential people, and then she stole it from her husband and fled to an unknown destination. The husband was in a debt pit and sharpened his tooth on Bridget so sharply that he would easily bite a thick power cable if it ended up in his mouth. And the sexy lady scammer has already found a new cover for herself in the form of an outspoken village guy Mike Swail (Peter Berg), who fell in love with Bridget like a boy. Seducing him and turning him into her lover and errand boy, Bridget began to build a new plan and, as it turned out, for good reason, because another round sum loomed on the horizon.
“The Last Seduction” as well as other films in which relationships, all sorts of love triangles, insidious plans for revenge and other indispensable attributes inherent in passion and blind faith are tied up, turns out to be a cool confirmation that a woman can be extremely seductive and insidious at one time, and a man, trying to muscle her and show his heroism, completely forgets about the instinct of self-preservation and is able to commit rash acts.
Despite several candid scenes, this film cannot be called an erotic thriller or a detective. Still, the amount of nudity in it is not so much, but in any case, it is better not to watch such a movie in the presence of children. Frank episodes add piquancy to the picture and best characterize the very insidiousness of a woman and the fact that men do not think with their heads when they see a stunning beauty in front of them.
What I liked about the film was Linda Fiorentino’s performance (and it’s not even about the bed scenes where she starred, not the understudy) and especially her voice. Very languid, seductive, sexy and charming. Not surprisingly, Peter Berg’s hero fell for her right away and dragged her feet wherever she went. Try to resist such a lady who is passionate in bed, but in public is impregnable and icy!
The script of the film is built around the image of Bridget and turns him not so much into the main character, but into a hero who himself creates a plot, continuing to weave intrigue and repeatedly exposing stupid men, using a whole set of his insidious techniques. And after all, this film does not openly declare to the delight of all feminists that the woman as a species prevails over the man (at that time it was not yet mainstream), it just states the fact that you need to think with your head.
By the way, it was interesting to see Berg too, because now he is better known as a director, mainly collaborating with Mark Wahlberg, and before he himself was actively starring and in this picture he essentially played the main male role.
The director of the film John Dahl, who currently shoots mainly series, in the 90s was one of those who actively and skillfully built a direction in the field of cinema related to the relationship between partners and love triangles. A couple of years before The Last Seduction, he released his film Roadside, and in 1989 Kill Me Again, plus the film Unforgettable (1996), where Fiorentino also starred. Each of these films also deserves the audience’s attention, especially since these days all these projects are unlikely to be played on TV, although the same “Roadside establishment” even at the beginning of zero went on the “box” regularly.
As a result, the film “The Last Seduction” is a really cool detective thriller in which the viewer is able to enjoy everything, including acting, as well as musical accompaniment, which kind of translates the narrative into a kind of frivolous channel (to become an ironic detective), but in fact masks the cruelty and cold calculation of those who are designed to seduce.
But look at you. I do not impose my opinion on anyone.
After pocketing a million dollars earned by her husband from drug trafficking, Bridget hides in a small town. And while the angry husband is everywhere looking for a fugitive, she solves this problem in her usual manner - she frowns on the simple-minded provincial Mike, saying that you can easily and quickly earn money, you only need to kill one person.
"Last Seduction" is very often compared with "Basic Instinct", but not in terms of explicit sexual scenes, but in the context of comparing the main characters as classic examples of la femme fatale - self-centered, calculating, ready to go to all bitches, using sex as a tool. Linda Fiorentino so impressed critics and viewers that few doubted her Oscar nomination, but, alas, the rules of the Academy did not allow the film to pass into the competition – the producers recklessly managed to show the picture on cable television before the cinema, which did not meet the strict Oscar regulations.
As a result, John Dahl’s film is a quite decent and interesting example of a criminal drama with elements of erotic 90s with a cult plume, but clearly not the first echelon. But this is really a peak role in the career of Fiorentino, who could not become the second Sharon Stone, but was remembered by all “The Last Seduction”.
First of all, this exciting drama is created for fans of thrillers with an unpredictable ending. One of those films that look in one breath, and in the end it is impossible to take your eyes off the screen.
Those who elevate the femininity and tenderness of feelings, perhaps, it is better not to watch the film. But on the other hand, the film will certainly appeal to all those who argue every day that there is a time when women have as much money and power as men and now they can only treat them as sexual objects.
Bridget is the main character of the film - a true feminist and all men are not only not worthy of her, but also seem worthless chips in her fascinating game, in which only a strong woman can win, and her opponents are doomed to fiasco. I want to believe that such women can be found only in the movies.
There is a stereotype that many men want polygamous, not expecting anything serious women. But in this film, the characters switched places. No man wants to be a sex toy for women. And he loses all desire to connect his fate with this type of woman. But we see how, despite his morals and firmness of character, the main character cannot resist a strong lady who drives him crazy.
Of course, Linda Fiorentino did a great job of her role as Bridget, a femme fatale with whom it is best to have nothing to do. Surprisingly, after all, the heroine never once asked the question “What have I done?” She remained faithful to her intentions and customs until the end, how terrible they would not be.
The cult series “Sex and the City” begins with a mention of how Linda Feorentino “made this man into a fence in Last Seduction.” The series has become a classic, a lifestyle, a new worldview, and the film, which is almost 20 years old, has already been forgotten. Let's remember, huh?
So, Bridget, far from Jones, lives in New York with a loser husband. She looks like a femme fatale. Narcissistic, selfish and straight as a stick in matters of sex. I can't imagine how many times the original F-word sounds. Bridget is cynical and greedy. Up until the credits, I waited for her eyes to burst into flames and satanic horns to appear. In comparison, Stone’s character in Basic Instinct is an innocent student. Bridget skillfully manipulates people, sometimes she only lacks a whip. In general, a juicy image.
I'm not afraid of that word, but "Last Seduction" is a swan song to true lady and femininity. Bridget is a real feminist and all men not only do not deserve her, but also seem a kind of stupid rabble, garbage under their feet. Maybe there are some women, but I really hope that only in the movies.
As much as I've seen Linda Fiorentino in different projects, she's always unrecognizable. The very innocence in Dogma, the mysterious morgue worker in Men in Black. And now the wicked lady in "The Last Seduction." I have to pay tribute to the actress, in the image she entered like oil.
Bill Pullman is Bill Pullman. Nothing. Life is unfair in many ways, and usually next to a strong, intelligent woman, there is a feeble, little person – her man. So did Bridget and her Clay. He's all some kind of twisted, slippery type. His wife is no better than him.
Usually there is a human victim in these films. Here it's modest Mike, played by Peter Berg. However, pity this guy initially only because he meets Bridget and they have a kind of sympathy.
The first season of “Sex and the City” was considered the most unsuccessful. Since the beginning of the second, the authors have changed a lot in it, which just brought the series a stunning success. I think over the years, the heroines stopped loving The Last Seduction. The film is in many ways more comedic than tragic. It looks like a banter over similarly serious pictures. This is a good one, though.
Many people have dark sides. She has no other side.
Successful careerist, ambitious, smart and married Bridget has a passion for criminal games and a wild thirst for money. One New York working day, after another illegal transaction of her husband’s scammer, Bridget escapes with all the money and begins a new life, while remaining the same uncompromising, insolent and rude bitch.
"Are you out of here?"
- "Fuck off."
Temporarily settled in a new town for himself, under a false name, waiting for when he can easily spend stolen money from her husband and live a sweet life, the fatal beauty accidentally meets the local romantic Mike in a bar, who not only immediately falls in love with her, but is ready for much. Using Mike’s young horse both in the tail and in the mane, Wendy now continues to rush to his own destructive victory for everyone except her.
- Is there a problem, mister?
What's so interesting? You can watch this movie if you have an interest in the main character. Linda Fiorentino plays brilliantly - a hard, cold, in the harshest form woman, calculating so much that even the most passionate sex will not bring her out of her own insensitive balance. I waited the whole film for her to show at least a drop of female emotion, but short-cut, without a manicure nails only emphasized her murderous composure, while Bridget-Wendy remains a virtuoso of manipulations of any type of man, an elegant, ever-smoking and so attractive for all moths trap. Any bitch after Ms. Bridget would seem like a holy lamb.
An unexpected find, watch lovers of femme fatale and insecure chicks.
John Dahl’s cult erotic thriller The Last Seduction can be safely called a milestone in the development of the genre. The 'Last Seduction' is in some moments much tougher than the 'Basic Instinct', thanks to Linda Fiorentino's heroine, Bridget, manipulator, fraudster and sexual aggressor. For the sake of this goal, she is ready to kill and lie without suffering the pain of conscience.
All the men around her (Bill Pullman and Peter Berg) she needs as supplies. From one, she needs money, from the other, the release of her sexual demons. Linda Fiorentino was able to embody the image of a dangerous femme fatale so that her heroine both frightens and seduces at the same time. Perhaps the role of Bridget is the best in the career of an actress.
The film sounds just charming music in the style of light jazz, creating a neonoir atmosphere in the film. Music sometimes even hints at the subsequent events of the film, the plot in which develops unpredictably.
I recommend this tape to fans of thrillers of the 90s and just fans of stylish neonoir.
10 out of 10