Bad Influence
|
List Price: Our Price: $3.21 You Save: $0.77 (19%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $1.43 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of Bad Influence
Movie Review: Classic Rob Lowe and James Spader
Summary: 5 Stars
An excellent study of two characters! Rob Lowe and James Spader make a perfect contrast to one another. Lowe captivates and seduces Spader by offering and delivering this weak yuppie his dreams in life. "Tell me what you want Mick" and freeing him from what he fears the most. But there is a price to pay. The chemistry that these two actors create throughout the movie alone is worth seeing it. But there is a lot more. The supporting actors deliver big time! Spader's main rival at work, his secretary, and especially the saultry Lisa Zane as an underground club slut that gets caught up in Rob Lowe's plan. There is also great music by the "Negresses Vertes." It will leave you wanting more!Movie Review: Excellent movie...Lowe and Spader shine
Summary: 5 Stars
Very different and dark movie, not what we are used to with Rob Lowe, but he doesn't disappoint. Lowe is outstanding and proves he is much more than a just a great looking actor. James Spader is very good and works well with Rob. This movie never got it's just due, should have been a blockbuster, very under-rated. Check it out!!Movie Review: Unique, stylish, underrated cult-worthy noir
Summary: 4 Stars
BAD INFLUENCE (1990) is an interesting piece of cinema. It came out in a transition year (1990) for Hollywood where the 80s style of filmmaking were disappearing (in some cases for the better, and in some cases, for the worse!), yet it still has (a very tiny) 80s vibe as it starred two well-known 80s "Brat Pack" actors (Rob Lowe and James Spader). Both Lowe and Spader were more of a brat-packers "once removed", having either worked with brat packers (but in non-Brat Pack movies) or either with non-Brat Pack actors who had themselves worked with or were closely associated with Brat Packers...Got all that! Both actors broke away from that infamous group big time to star in this excellent, mature film noir BAD INFLUENCE.
Rob Lowe plays "Alex", a mysterious, womanizing, partygoing drifter, who never stays in one place very long and seems to specialize in creating trouble. The plot-setting opening of the film actually gives us a glimpse of this character. James Spader is Michael, a rather nerdy stockbroker who allows himself to be mentally pushed over by both his fiancee (Marcia Cross in an early film role) and his competing colleague Patterson (played with slick, slimy glee by Tony Maggio). One day at a seaside bar, Alex and Michael have a chance meeting where Alex saves Michael from getting beat up by a muscle-beach bully, who is ticked at Michael for hitting on his girlfriend. An uneasy sympatico forms between Alex and Michael as Alex introduces Michael to an underbelly of L.A. nightlife of secret nightclubs, drug parties, and petty larceny! Alex also introduces Michael to the seductive Claire (Lisa Zane in a sultry performance).
The tipping point is when Alex beats up Patterson. Then Michael, realizing that he could be implicated, cuts ties with the psychotic Alex immediately, but Alex feels like Michael is his "creation" and threatens to implicate him in his crimes. BAD INFLUENCE was directed by future Oscar-winner Curtis Hanson (L.A. CONFIDENTIAL). Not nearly as epic as that film, BAD INFLUENCE is an extremely watchable flick with a lot of style and atmosphere that one doesn't find in very many films anymore. I think Lowe and Spader being still not far removed from Brat Pack status, as well as Hanson being a virtual unknown, and the rather lurid nature of this film hurt it upon initial release, but it definitely deserves more recognition.
BAD INFLUENCE is not a strictly stylish movie, as both Lowe and Spader convincingly play their against-type roles with great confidence. Lowe, in particular, is extremely persuasive as seductive loner Alex with psychotic tendencies. Spader is rock solid as a bland, normal guy that gets in way over his head. In addition to Lowe and Spader, the film's supporting players are extremely well cast and played (the aforementioned Zane,Cross, and Maggio, as well as Kathleen Wilhoite and Christian Clemenson). BAD INFLUENCE is a very entertaining, engrossing thriller that deserves attention.
Movie Review: Bad Boy Rob Lowe is Captivating in This One.
Summary: 4 Stars
Viewed: 10/03, 7/05, 5/08
Rate: 7
7/05: Bad Influence is style over substance plus substance. This film works because of Rob Lowe. And he certainly deserves accolades for his outstanding villainous performance. He is chillingly cold and manipulative, and one simple look at Rob Lowe: I just don't believe it, but I am deceived by his smile. Great job also by James Spader for playing the meek victim. Bad Influence is definitely Curtis Hanson's masterpiece, although the rest of his films don't come to par. Bad Influence is more impressive than Following because it entails a more developed story and sinister quality in the manipulator. All in all, Bad Influence is a work of art.
5/08: Before I thought Bad Influence was a stylish thriller featuring a couple of outstanding performances from Rob Lowe and James Spader, now I think of the film less. I got to say, this time around, Bad Influence is bit flat with a mix of sometimes good and bad. Somehow, I think the outcomes looked too darned easy, and I was surprised to see that James Spader's character, given the background he comes from, having nearly no friends, forcing me to suspend my disbelief in his inadequate social status given his background. Rob Lowe goes a great job, playing a much different character and giving a much different performance, but of course, the scandal that he endured helped to bring out the best of him, thus no surprise to me that he didn't stay improved thereafter. Curtis Hanson is not bad of a director, but he needs to work a little bit more at bringing in a little bit of realism. Then again, more emotion would help. He fails to do that for two other films: 8 Mile and L.A. Confidential. Yet Bad Influence is a wonderful film that explores the seedy life that one character is oblivious about and reluctantly gets drawn in before he realizes the kind of an intricate mess that he gets himself in. Actually, I thought Stanley Kubrick did a much better job exploring the topic with his Eyes Wide Open. Again, in comparison, Eyes Wide Open had more emotions, consequences, and realism. It was also a psychological thriller with plenty of sexuality. Bad Influence falls a bit short of each aspect. The only reason why I like to revisit Bad Influence from time to time is Rob Lowe's performance, but I realize more now that the novelty is wearing off a good deal. All in all, Bad Influence is an okay film with plenty to offer, but don't expect it to be a jaw-dropping thriller. I am dropping the rating for Bad Influence from `9' to `7'.
Movie Review: Call Me Mick
Summary: 4 Stars
Michael (James Spader) is a stock analyst who seems to have it all:a high paying job, a loving fiancee (Marcia Cross) whose father knows all the right people, an expensive and well furnished apartment and respectability. The truth is he's suffocating and longs for something more in his life. Michael is terrified of settling down and hopes to land a higher position at work. In order to do that he has to best a snooty co worker out to undermine him at every turn. Enter Alex (Rob Lowe) a stranger who intervenes on Michael's behalf during a bar fight. Alex is good looking, fearless and in total control of his life. Michael is immediately impressed and the two men start hanging out. Alex does his best to spice up Michael's life by taking him to after hours clubs and mansion parties where the women and drugs are plentiful and free. He even offers to help Michael in other areas of his life : notably his engagement and his job. The only problem is that Alex's methods are extreme. Too extreme for Michael who soon finds himself at risk of losing everything he's ever worked for. Even though the film was made in 1990 it has all the style and seductive energy of an 80's film. Lowe and Spader turn in excellent performances. Lowe in particular is genuinely chilling as the dangerous Alex and Spader is a relatable everyman who gets way more than he bargained for. In a way this film plays like 'Fight Club' eight years before that film came out. When you think about it they have a lot in common: a timid businessman living a restless life looking for someone to come along and show him a more exciting way to live and then meeting a charismatic stranger who slowly makes his life a living hell. I thought so anyway.