Andy and Lana (or rather Larry, at the time) Wachowski, the masterminds behind “The Matrix,” made their directorial debuts with this violent yet highly stylized neo-noir thriller that throws genre conventions for quite the loop (sometimes literally). Corky (Gina Gershon), a tough girl just released from prison after serving five years for what she describes as “the redistribution of wealth,” has taken a job remodeling a luxury apartment; the next-door neighbors happen to be mob launderer Caesar (Joe Pantoliano) and his moll, Violet (Jennifer Tilly), a bona fide femme fatale who quickly seduces the ex-con and gets her involved with a plot to screw over Caesar and steal $2 million from the Mafia. “Bound” cost around $5 million but looks a heck of a lot more expensive with its sleek production design and innovative camera work; indeed, the film ended up being much more than just an “audition piece” with which the filmmaker siblings proved that they knew their way around a movie set … and could therefore tell the much (much) larger story of Thomas A. Anderson/Neo. Tilly was originally cast in the role of Corky; when the actress set to play Violet dropped out, Gershon came on board to take the role, though the two women eventually ended up switching parts. – IFC Staff
