Directed by:
William FriedkinScreenplay:
Joe EszterhasCinematography:
Andrzej BartkowiakComposer:
James HornerCast:
David Caruso, Linda Fiorentino, Chazz Palminteri, Richard Crenna, Michael Biehn, Donna Murphy, Ken King, Holt McCallany, David Hunt, Angie Everhart (more)VOD (4)
Plots(1)
Assistant D.A. David Corelli (David Caruso) is trapped between friendship and the law when the brutal murder of an important San Francisco millionaire points toward his former lover and college friend, Trina Gavin (Linda Fiorentino), a beautiful woman with a mysterious alter ego. As details of the murder victim's sexual escapades emerge, Corelli uncovers evidence that the victim was blackmailing a powerful politician with incriminating photographs. But as the crucial witnesses are systematically murdered and attempts on Corelli's life are made, the case assumes a paranoid veneer in which nothing is certain and no one can be trusted. Set against a backdrop of the immaculate mansions of the San Francisco wealthy with a decorative fetish for the ancient Far East and contrasted with a classic Friedkin chase scene through the city's Chinatown, JADE is a lush, dark, and suspenseful sexual thriller from the writer of BASIC INSTINCT that will keep the audience guessing until the very last scene. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Reviews (2)
Jade is a respectable thriller that starts off full of promise, under the skillful direction of William Friedkin. However, the movie also has screenwriter Joe Eszterhas who once again goes for his own particular style of erotic thriller, such as his successful movie Basic Instinct. In fact, this movie has a fairly ordinary "murder mystery" storyline, but the plot, unfortunately, fails to establish itself as a believable movie, let alone enhance the audience's experience with some surprise or innovation. Director Friedkin was able to spice up the movie with at least a few suspenseful scenes and stylishly shot action, however, all his efforts end up in vain at the very last minute, because the ending looks like the screenwriter wrote a conclusion that was only one of several alternative endings he came up with and lacks all credibility.
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I belong to a small group of people who actually quite liked this crime thriller. Although it has routine direction and the male roles are routine portrayals, I had no problem with the script and at times I even felt tension. Good camera work, several car chases that vaguely reminded me of the famous Bullitt case, seductive actresses, and an acceptable plot. A strong three stars, overall impression: 65%.
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