On O List of Movie Reviews
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One Night Stand (1997)
Rate:
9
Viewed:
3/20
3/20:
After directing Nicolas Cage to his lone Oscar win for Leaving Las Vegas, Mike Figgis
did a better movie called One Night Stand.
Both are similar and have the same feel. I'm not a huge fan of the former, but I like the latter more because
of the quiet intensity, the all-around terrific cast, and how much it reminds me of Robert Altman's films, especially with
the zoom effects.
Superb performances are given by Wesley Snipes who's an underrated actor when it comes to drama, Nastassja Kinski,
and Ming-Na Wen. Robert Downey, Jr., is also very good and was at the apogee of his drug addiction. It's a fine job by Mike
Figgis for the screenplay and direction and John Smith for editing.
Why Max got on with the German blonde becomes clear when he went back to his wife in L.A. from New York City, it's the way
she does things and how verbal she is in terms of dishing out directions, especially during sex. So, it's not
a surprise that he wanted out of the marriage, regardless of her good looks.
The plot twist, which comes in the final fifteen minutes, is a surprise. I wasn't expecting that, but how awkward it
must be for at least two people involved and I can't see how Vernon and Mimi are attracted to each other. At least,
there are no bad feelings shown by anyone considering what Charlie went through.
All in all, Leaving Las Vegas is about a man's freefall into the bottomless
abyss, and One Night Stand is about celebration of life.