Tightrope
A police inspector, investigating a string of sex crimes, succumbsto the wiles of some of the prostitues he questions. He finds that he has much in common with the murderer he's pursuing.
The screenwriter of Escape from Alcatraz, Richard Tuggle, sold a second script to Clint Eastwood on the condition that he be allowed to direct it. The result is a near classic, a grim psycho-thriller set in New Orleans, which remains one of the star's boldest attempts to undercut his unshakable rock-bound image. It was interpreted by some critics as an exercise in self-exploration, although that might be stretching it. Still, as a cop whose own kinky yearnings are pulled to the surface as he investigates a series of stalker murders of women, Eastwood often seems tormented by self-doubt, and that was a new flavor for him. The French-Canadian actress Geneviève Bujold plays the seductive Cajun shrink who helps Clint get in touch with his dark side. The great thing is that the movie works as pure suspense, despite its larger ambitions. Tuggle made sure that the crime-solving elements and the psychological explorations fit smoothly together: the twist is that in order to be able to anticipate the sicko's actions, the cop has to learn to share his feelings, and finds the transition a little too easy to negotiate. --David Chute
Tightrope Accessories
Tightrope Reviews
There is nothing original in this 1984 film in New Orleans. We have seen it all. The ex-cop turned serial killer after a long sojourn in prison for rape. The woman activist who is teaching self defense to other women. The divorced father who is taking care of two girls. The victims chosen among the female haphazard or not of the main cop who arrested him a long time ago, in order to get even with him, to get his revenge. The Mardi Gras turned into crime peddling. The three cops keeping one woman under surveillance and protection killed one after the other and the woman assaulted. Etc. So what makes this film special? The cool character of the inspector, slow and fast at the same time, Pondering and following his instinct at some other time. Professional and yet yielding to prostitutes a little too easily and too often, and forgetting his ties on the place of intercourse. Having a problem explaining his younger daughter what a hard-on is. And the word is used twice in the film. There is also the perfect well built suspense founded and built on the shoes and the color of the shoelaces of the criminal. The absolute ruthlessness of this killer who enjoys raping his victims before they die by strangulation and then even eating a cookie and having a cup of coffee. That nonchalance is rarely expected nor found in a serial killer, though he may become so used to his deeds that follow a strict scenario that he may become easy-going about it. That's why the film is perfectly entertaining and Bourbon street on Mardi Gras is so colorful and fascinating. We would like every day to be a Mardi Gras, even if that is the paradise of murderers who can disguise the way they want and be absolutely unseen, invisible. And it all holds with a red silk ribbon. Marvelous detail that makes the film nearly sentimental, like the red badge of courage turned perverse and sociopathic.
Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne, University Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines, CEGID
I love this movie and all of Clint Eastwoods movies. I was grown up on Clint Eastwood because he was always my dads favorite actor. I can not imagine anyone wanting to give his films less then 5 stars because he is so awsome and so are all his films. This movie is a good thiller and is action pacted. I wouldn't trade any of my Clint Eastwood movies for nothing. This movie is worth the money to buy it and of course as uaual Eastwood's acting is excellent. If you have never seen this film you are missing out on a good one.
VLH
In one of his less well known roles Clint Eastwood again shows that he is always prepared to do the unexpected with his acting. He plays Wes Block, a cop who is trying to catch a serial killer with liking for kinky sex.
The trouble for Wes is that so does he, and in fact he frequents the same places and meets the same women as the killer. Genevieve Bujold plays the rape counsellor who becomes involved with Wes and theres a noteably good performance from Clint Eastwood's daughter who plays one of Wes's two daughters in the film.
Its a brave performance from Eastwood and the whole film is really quite an edgy thriller. From memory I was convinced Eastwood directed this, but seeing it again recently I realised he didn't. So credit to the actual director who did a fine job.
Eastwood was 54 when this was made. If I can be as good shape as he was at that age I'll be a very happy man!
Why this isn't available on region 2 seperately I don't know, as its a better film than most of the Dirty Harry sequels. No doubt it'll be reissued again eventually. Highly recommended.
Very disappointed with this movie. The color was too dark, sound not good. I have a 52" screen and still had trouble trying to see anything. One of Clint Eastwoods poorer movies. I file 13ed it!
***** 1984. Written and directed by Richard Tuggle. That's one of the Eastwood movies I prefer. At that time, Clint began to play with his image and delivered with TIGHTROPE a fascinating journey into New Orleans's red district and into a tortured mind. Masterpiece.
|
