Mortal Thoughts (1991)

Director:

Alan Rudolph

Writers:

William Reilly (writer) &
Claude Kerven (writer)

Release Date:

19 huhtikuu 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Murder is a secret that should never be shared.

Plot:

Cynthia comes forward to talk to detective John about the murder of her best friend's husband. The story is told as a series of flashbacks...

Plot Keywords:

Flashback | Abusive Husband | Best Friend | Murder | Carnival

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Demi Moore	...	Cynthia Kellogg
Glenne Headly	...	Joyce Urbanski
Bruce Willis	...	James Urbanski
John Pankow	...	Arthur Kellogg
Harvey Keitel	...	Det. John Woods
Billie Neal	...	Det. Linda Nealon
Frank Vincent	...	Dominic, Joyce's Father
Karen Shallo	...	Gloria, James' Mother
Crystal Field	...	Jeanette, Joyce's Mother
Marianne Leone	...	Aunt Rita (as Maryanne Leone)
Marc Baron	...	Usher (as Marc Tantillo)
Doris McCarthy	...	Pat, Cynthia's Mother
Christopher Scotellaro	...	Joey, James' Brother
Ron J. Amodea	...	Band Leader
Leonid Merzon	...	Yuri

MPAA:

Rated R for strong language, momentary violence, and for some drug content.

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Australia:M | Argentina:16 | Finland:K-14 | Germany:16 | Netherlands:12 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | Canada:AA (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Bayonne, New Jersey, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

The James Urbanski role was only a tiny part in the film until 'Bruce Willis (I)' agreed to do the film.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: Camera crew reflected in the van when Joey drives away from Cynthia.

Quotes:

James: Where's Mr. Morehead?
Joyce: Who?
James: You know, Mr Morehead.
Joyce: Who's that?
James: Arthur, got more head than hair.

Movie Connections:

Features "Days of Our Lives" (1965)

Soundtrack:

KUNG FU FIGHTING

Flashback Film

I was pleasantly surprised by this film for its guts to take a story and almost present it all through Demi Moore talking to two police detectives(Harvey Keitel and Bille Neal) in a room - everything we see is via her character's thoughts and perceptions and ideas of truth and untruth and is entirely in flashback form. The story centers around Moore and her friend Headly recently married to a brute of a guy played by Bruce Willis - and goes from there to murder, mystery, and the eventual uncovering of what is the truth behind everything. Director Alan Rudolph does a good job creating a story convincingly told throughout by flashback and from the first person whilst coming back to present time repeatedly. This is not as easy as it sounds and has been messed up in other films, but it does work here because of Rudolph's sure directorial talents and the acting of Moore, Willis, Headly and Keitel. Demi Moore gives perhaps one her best performances(looking lovely I might add as well) as a New York woman torn between several things. Headly is as strong as is Willis. All of the actors give serviceable performances and the whole movie looks and sounds like a spin off from The Sopranos or something the way all of the actors walk, talk, and act. You will have no doubts where the film takes place to be sure. The story is inventive and delivers at the end. I didn't see it coming but others could believably so - but even if that is the case the film works on other levels as well. There are some nice psychological examinations made in the film as well as challenges made to perceptions. I must agree the title is really quite horrible and has virtually nothing to do with this film, but all in all this is quite a good thriller that needs another look.