Art or Pornography?

"Bound (1996, 108 minutes)

"It would be really easy to dismiss this movie because it was made by two guys. I won't make that mistake. This movie was originally written with a man in mind for the part of Corky. So did they just cast a woman instead of a man and leave everything else the same? NO, they hired Suzie Bright to help them make the lesbianism seem real. I myself don't know if Suzie Bright is an expert on these things (even if she claims to be) but I do see the payoff on screen. Corky is very believable as this butch girl. Gina Gershon does such a great job that only at one point does she slip from the character. Jenniffer Tilly originally read for corky and ended up getting Violet. In a lot of ways she lucked out because that is a juicier role. Violet isn't what she seems and you aren't sure until the last minute what she is up to. Corky is straight forward and you always know what she is up to. But she is certainly a lesbian and I enjoyed the references to the labrys and the way the sexuality is portrayed. The butch, femme stereotypes don't live in this story. While Violet is the femme, she isn't controlled or stupid or for that matter the bottom! It has a happy ending so you that's enough for me, you won't be disappointed on that score. Tilly and Gershon have a chemistry that is palpable. They look good!"


8/20/2002:

"Bound (1996, 108 minutes) "It would be really easy to dismiss this movie because it was made by two guys. I won't make that mistake. This movie was originally written with a man in mind for the part of Corky. So did they just cast a woman instead of a man and leave everything else the same? NO, they hired Suzie Bright to help them make the lesbianism seem real. I myself don't know if Suzie Bright is an expert on these things (even if she claims to be) but I do see the payoff on screen. Corky is very believable as this butch girl. Gina Gershon does such a great job that only at one point does she slip from the character. Jenniffer Tilly originally read for corky and ended up getting Violet. In a lot of ways she lucked out because that is a juicier role. Violet isn't what she seems and you aren't sure until the last minute what she is up to. Corky is straight forward and you always know what she is up to. But she is certainly a lesbian and I enjoyed the references to the labrys and the way the sexuality is portrayed. The butch, femme stereotypes don't live in this story. While Violet is the femme, she isn't controlled or stupid or for that matter the bottom! It has a happy ending so you that's enough for me, you won't be disappointed on that score. Tilly and Gershon have a chemistry that is palpable. They look good!"