Main Cast: James Spader, Joanne Whalley, Jason Robards, Jr., Charlotte Lewis, Mike Warren, Piper Laurie
Release Year: 1992
Country: US
Run Time: 112 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Mark Frost, the writer and director best known for his work with David Lynch on the TV series Twin Peaks, made his feature film directorial debut with this convoluted thriller. Cray Fowler (James Spader) is running for congress, partly to satisfy his own political aspirations and partly to resolve certain controversies in his life; he divorced his wife after discovering that she was unfaithful, and his father committed suicide after he became involved in a scandal regarding valuable oil rights. While on the campaign trail, Fowler is persuaded to visit Lee Tran (Charlotte Lewis), a waitress he meets at a fund raiser. Fowler and Lee Tran have sex, which is caught on videotape; as if this isn't strong enough blackmail material, Lee Tran's father turns up dead in the room where Fowler wakes up. But Lee, not Fowler, is charged with the murder, and Fowler, a lawyer, agrees to defend her in court. Fowler wins the case against beautiful District Attorney Natalie Tate (Joanne Whalley-Kilmer), Fowler's former girlfriend, but now he needs to find out who is trying to set him up and for what reason; he hopes he can get some help from his uncle, Clifford Fowler (Jason Robards), a political kingmaker of the old school who knows all the family's secrets. The supporting cast includes Piper Laurie, Michael Parks, Chuck McCann, and Woody Strode. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Michael Parks - Michael Trevallian; Chuck McCann - Pudge Herman; Charles Haid - Abe Choate; Chino "Fats" Williams - Theotis Washington; Woody Strode - Charlie Sumpter; Jeff Perry - Peter Dandridge; Galyn Gorg - Spice; Justine Arlin - Melanie Fowler; Philip Carter - Avner Hollister; George Cheung - Xang Tran; Lionel Ferbos - St. Alban's Pastor; Steve Forrest - Judge Quentin Murdoch; Jim Gleeson - Lawyer; Ron Gural - Librarian; Sally Ann Roberts - Commentator; Graham Timbes - Sam Honess; Bernard Zette - Tom Plunkett; Johanna Ray; Fred Lewis - Bennett Jones
Credit
Kathleen M. McKernin - Art Director, Johanna Ray - Casting, Evzen Kolar - Co-producer, Louise Frogley - Costume Designer, Mark Frost - Director, B.J. Sears - Editor, John Davis - Executive Producer, John Flock - Executive Producer, Carter Burwell - Composer (Music Score), Richard Hoover - Production Designer, Ronald V. Garcia - Cinematographer, Edward R. Pressman - Producer, David Roe - Producer, George Zecevic - Producer, Brian Kasch - Set Designer, Stephen Halbert - Sound/Sound Designer, Joe Dunne - Stunts, Dennis Madalone - Stunts, Kurt Bryant - Stunts, Mark Frost - Screenwriter, Lee Reynolds - Screenwriter, Frank Galbally - Book Author, Robert Macklin - Book Author
Cray Fowler, a young candidate for the United States Senate is filmed with a hooker as blackmail. As he investigates, Fowler discovers some family secrets involving his father and their political careers.
