Movie Type: Post-Noir (Modern Noir), Psychological Drama
Themes: Haunted By the Past, Redemption, Future Dystopias
Main Cast: Kris Kristofferson, Keith Carradine, Lori Singer, Geneviève Bujold, Joe Morton
Release Year: 1985
Country: US
Run Time: 111 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
The time is The Future: the place is Rain City, formerly Seattle. The city is a police state, while the citizens have adopted the manner and dress of 1940s gangsters. Recently released from prison, ex-cop Kris Kristofferson tries to touch base with his ex-girlfriend Genevieve Bujold, who runs a 1950s-style cafe. Hoping to make up for past sins, thereby redeeming himself in Bujold's eyes, Kristofferson endeavors to save innocent, newly arrived couple Keith Carradine and Lori Singer from the evil designs of crooked Joe Morton. Trouble in Mind strives mightily for a film noir ambience, right down to the presence of a sinister, Greenstreetesque "fat man," played in male drag (for a change) by Divine. The title tune for Trouble in Mind is sung over the credits by Marianne Faithful. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Divine - Hilly Blue; George Kirby - Lt. Gunther; John Considine - Nate Nathanson; Matt Almond - Slick; Dirk Blocker - Rambo; Steve Danton - Stevo Zarque; Antonia Dauphin - Sonja Nathanson; Debra Dusay - Marie La Mer; Caitlin Ferguson - Spike; Frank Gargani - Ginny; Albert Hall - Leo; Ron Ben Jarrett - Bouncer; Robert Kim - Chiene; Jill C. Klein - Nancy Lamour; Dave MacIntyre - McBride; Allan Nicholls - Sector Representative Pete Regis; Barry M. Press - Salesman; William Earl Ray - Long Prison Guard; Gailard Sartain - Fat Adolph; Billy Silva - Elmo; Mara Scott Wood - Trixie; Bob Gould - Mardy Stoog; Elizabeth Kaye - Bunny; Robbie Lee - Ho; Greg Walker - Bull; B.J. Alexander - Snookums; Mickey Alzola - Leapy; Nanci Anton - Eve; J. Morgan Armstrong - Mo; Danielle Aubuchon - Shana; Felix Casares - Scholar; Susan Catherine - Les Filles De La Nuit; M. James Clark - Officer Fox; James Crabtree - Fireman; Tony Cross - bartender; Frances Diamond - Diamond; Patti Dobrowokski - Vega; James Etue - Sahmus; R. Fox - Officer Clark; Lee Ann Fuji - Rose; James Fulgium - Flip; Karen Gottberg - Lady of the night; Judy Lynne Gratton - wealthy woman; Raymond Kemp - Lucky Bill; Joanne Klein - Eve Lamour; David Kline - Short Millitiaman; Tracey Kristofferson - Tammy Regis; Stuart Manne - Little Caesar; Bill McIntosh - Cosmo; Terry Morgan - Pimp; Sarah Yvonne Murray - Samaritan; Sheri Ann Nye - Lady of the night; David Quintera - Blackie; Shelle Renee - Lady of the night; Carl Sander - Wealthy Man; J.R. Smith - Pud; Stephen Sneed - Bellboy; Andrea Stein - Maria; Rick Tutor - Bill; Patricia Tyler - Soldier; Rock Walker - Rocko; Jabus Wesson - Jingles; Tammy Wolfe - Tour Guide; Greg Wayne Elam - Skinny; William Hall - Long Millitiaman; Steven Ross - Short Prison Guard; Pamela Gray - Dot
Credit
Tracy Tynan - Costume Designer, Alan Rudolph - Director, Sally Coryn Allen - Editor, Tom Walls - Editor, Mark Isham - Composer (Music Score), Ed Ternes - Makeup, Steven G. Legler - Production Designer, Toyomichi Kurita - Cinematographer, David Blocker - Producer, Cary Brokaw - Producer, Carolyn Pfeiffer - Producer, Don Ferguson - Set Designer, Matthew J. Clark - Set Designer, Robert A. Burns - Special Effects, Greg Walker - Stunts, Alan Rudolph - Screenwriter, K.C. Fox - Set Decorator
Trouble in Mind is a 1985neo-noir film which follows an ex-cop just released from jail after serving time for a murder sentence as he returns to the mean streets of the fictional "Rain City".
The movie flips between reality and unreality in a variety of ways, with the time, language and setting unclear. The leading characters all display traits of the opposite of what they seem to be (the heroic ex-cop, for example, is also a convicted murderer; the protective mother abandons her child; criminals show themselves to be sensitive philosophers; the wayward husband loves his wife; the straight woman shows a dark past; etc.). There are déjà vus and some uncanny look-alike side characters turn up in separate times and places. The four main characters convene by ones and pairs, get involved with one another, are joined by others, and end up in a final and absurd overall showdown to separate again as in a symbolic act of fertilisation, leaving the dead (and/or the past) behind.
