Crime Broker
Picture: C
Sound: C+ Extras: D Film: C
I like Jacqueline Bisset and think it is a shame she never
got the career or respect she deserved.
Critics went after her after The Deep in 1978 and unlike Jessica
Lange suffering the same scathing from the 1976 King Kong, she did not
bounce back like she deserved.
Relegated to TV work much of the time, Ian Barry’s Crime Broker
(1993) was one of her few recent theatrical film releases, playing a judge up
to an advanced robbery plot.
What feels like a bad version of Peter Yates’ Suspect
(1986) in reverse, the female lead is sexually interesting (Cher was in the
other film) and exceptionally intelligent and able-bodied. Of course, things go wrong and the film
tries to take some turns that do not work, but Bisset is appealing enough that
you can see why this got greenlighted.
The 1.33 X 1 image is softer than usual, especially for a
theatrical release. It is hard to tell
if this is a tunnel vision transfer or if the film was shot in a block and then
soft matted for its theatrical release.
The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo has no surrounds, though this was a Dolby
theatrical release. It is the A-type
analog Dolby, though, so must only be so dynamic to begin with. There are no extras, but those who like
Bisset will still want to see this once.
- Nicholas Sheffo
