The Postman Always Rings Twice – 1981 – Crime, Drama
Directed by: Bob Rafelson
Written by: David Mamet
Main Players: Jack Nicholson; Jessica Lange; John Colicos; Anjelica Huston; Christopher Lloyd
In the middle of a dark night, hitchhiker Frank Chambers (Nicholson) nabs a ride. Frank buys the nice man (Lloyd) a quick drink and orders a meal for himself at the restaurant stop (which was a nice representation of the original film’s location). It’s the great depression, and work and food can be hard to come by.
The restaurant owner Nick (Colicos) decides maybe this traveler is a good fit for some local auto work and asks Frank to stick around instead of heading off to L.A. Frank notices the pretty woman cooking in back: Nick’s wife Cora (Lange).
Suddenly, there is a bit more interest in the room, board and money, as well as more of Cora’s cooking. Frank eventually helps with the gas station, restaurant and auto work. Nick likes to booze, and Frank… he seems to like Cora. It seems like all roads will eventually lead to trouble.
The remake of The Postman Always Rings Twice features the same set-up and a new cast wading into dark murder filled waters. I prefer the original, but this steamier take on the same book is not too bad either, despite it moving a tad slow.
Nicholson’s take on Chambers is broody, brutish, jealous and calculated. It is hard to trust anything he says or does. Lange’s Cora is sexy, mischievous and a bit out of control. The pair make a fine set of troublemakers, surely things will go their way.
See This If You Liked:
The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946); Body Heat; Unfaithful; Basic Instinct; The Lady from Shanghai; Double Indemnity; The Last Seduction; Deep Water; Blood Simple
Score:
7.0