Retro Film Review: The Underneath (1995)
In the last few years word "remake" became synonym for the lack of creativity in contemporary Hollywood. Because of that it seems somewhat surprising that Steven Soderbergh, one of the most interesting and most original among contemporary American filmmakers, had two remakes among the last four titles in his filmography. Yet in those remakes Soderbergh tried to validate his reputation by making them look "artsy" and trying to compensate un-originality of content with his own, very original style. Soderbergh did that before, in The Underneath, his 1995 thriller, new version of 1949 film noir classic Criss Cross.
Film's protagonist is Michael Chambers (played by Peter Gallagher), former compulsive gambler who had to leave his home town of Austin, Texas because of increasing debts. After few years of absence Michael returns to his mother's wedding to Ed Dutton (played by Paul Dooley), middle-aged man who works as an armoured car driver. Ed helps Michael in getting the same job, but Michael is more interested in restarting relationship with his ex- girlfriend Rachel (played by Allison Elliott), who is now involved with small-time gangster Tommy Dundee (played by William Fichtner). In order to save himself from trouble with the local hood Michael approaches Tommy and offers that all three of them take part in his plan to steal bank shipments from his armoured car.
Soderbergh, constrained by the plot, obviously tried to make his version of Criss Cross stylistically different from the original and because of that The Underneath is not only one of the more unusual film noirs but also a film that is only marginally in the realms of that particular genre. Soderbergh used non-linear narrative structure, probably trying to give more emphasis to characters than to action. Unfortunately, present-day plot and flashbacks don't mix very well, leaving many viewers confused and the film belongs more to the genre of drama than thriller. Only at the end the plot starts to make some sense and the abrupt and brutal finale seems not to belong to this picture at all. However, those who like un-conventional genre films are probably going to be satisfied with its almost surreal atmosphere, helped by Cliff Martinez's music. The acting in this film is very good, although Peter Gallagher seems to be in shadow of relatively unknown Adam Trese who plays protagonist's brother. The Underneath, is more exercise in style than genre movie by itself, yet it is good enough to restore faith in modern-day remakes.
RATING: 6/10 (++)
(Note: The text in its original form was posted in Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.movies.reviews on September 3rd 2002)
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Movie URL: https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/36141-the-underneath?language=en-US
Critic: AA