TOP TEN list of all time favorite films with one of my generations most endearing and prolific actresses rising from a early 1980s film debut and landing choice roles while improving on ability and range of performance with each role, Michelle Pfeiffer.
A talented concept from director Jonathan Demme who already was a darling of critical acclaim for delivering edgy and nuanced cinema that was ideologically pure 1980s new wave and sharpening his claws with each product. Noted for one of the best concert films of that decade TALKING HEADS "stop making sense" and a screwball comedy on the skids near Jersey shores with Melanie Griffith and Jeff Daniels called "SOMETHING WILD". IN forthcoming years after MOB the director, Demme, will receive his reward for directing and adapting Thomas Harris's SILENCE OF THE LAMBS starring Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins [Oscar winner for 'Hannibal Lecter'].
Great cast includes Dean Stockwell, Alec Baldwin, Matthew Modine and a harem of actresses in choice cameo and supporting roles including Joan Cusack. Casting Mercedes Ruhl was like discovering a 'skeleton key' to Pandora's box with her tightly nuanced and terrific range of character aggression bigger than the mob's bosses.
Demme consistently cultivates talent and resumes sharing his creation with former collegues like TAK FUJIMOTO, cinematographer. Demme selectively chooses the pop songs on the film's soundtrack. Most notably these collections of tunes are signature eighties time capsules. Often giving breaks to musicians-turned-actors, Demme cast rising crooner Chris Isaak in the role of FBI undercover "clown" at drive-up fast food chain in MOB sometime before Isaak's signature ballad "WICKED GAME" was written and cued forebodingly in David Lynch's WILD AT HEART [ Nicholas Cage and Laura Dern ].
The site and sounds of Pfeiffer's NYC when her character changes address from Jersey to a slumlord's vacancy is vibrant with skid row elements meeting set dressing of cheap carnival cultural community and forced celebration on the rocks. Edgy and nervous single motherhood in the heart of urban chaos yet Demme makes it feel like a favorite vinyl album with the needle on the record.
Go with the flow of this screwball mob parody and budding romantic comedy with a sharp witty landscape of element and personalities. RUN to a vintage music store with dusty collections of abandoned cd collections and search for the memorable time capsule soundtrack soon.
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