Romeo Is Bleeding (1993)

"With or without?" doesn't matter, Lena nails it!
Want neo-noir? The real deal? Look no further. From the moment Lena Olin delivers the most potent two-word warning; "Keep lookin'," I've ever heard in film, to the bizarre and beautiful fade-out at the desolate Holiday Dinner, you're emersed in a dark, deadly, moral wasteland,inhabited by some of the most finely drawn feral characters you'll ever run into on the far side of the Styx.

Olin delivers a tour-de-force, as femme-fatale Mona Demarkov, a psychotic Russsian hitwoman, but Gary Oldman isn't far behind her with his portrayal of Jack Grimaldi, a sexually obsessed, crooked cop who tangles with Mona. The supporting cast is killer, and dead-bang on target, with: Annabella Sciorra in a subtle triumph as Jack's wife, Julliet Lewis perfect as Jack's ditzy girlfriend, Roy Schieder is chilling as Mona's gangster kingpin nemisis, Michael Wincott comes on sinister and solid, as Schieder's top thug. Ron Pearlman and Will Patton are excellent, and Dennis Farina delivers a hilarious cameo. For fun, see if you can spot 'Paulie Walnuts' of Tony Soprano's crew, romping with a couple of hookers.

Peter Medak's direction is pure genius, producing a film that is hard and tightly woven as chainmail. Mark Isam's haunting score caps a fine cinematic experience. Not for the squeamish, (or prudish) Romeo Is Bleeding comes by it's R rating honestly. If you're a true fan of noir, buy, rent, or steal (Mona would) this film, as soon as you can.

Saw it.....Loved it.....Own it
I rated this movie as one of the top five movies that I have ever seen....You have got to see the scene where Ms. Olin escapes from the backseat of a car.

Saw it.....Loved it.....Own it
I rated this movie as one of the top five movies that I have ever seen....You have got to see the scene where Ms. Olin escapes from the backseat of a car.