Love Walked In (1997 film)
Love Walked In is a 1997 Argentine-American neo-noir drama/thriller film co-written and directed by Juan José Campanella and starring Denis Leary, Terence Stamp and Aitana Sánchez-Gijón. It was based on the novel Ni el tiro del final ("Not Even The Final Shot") by Argentine writer José Pablo Feinmann. The film takes its title from George Gershwin's song "Love Walked In".
| Love Walked In | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Juan José Campanella |
| Produced by | Ricardo Freixa Denis Leary |
| Screenplay by | Juan José Campanella Lynn Geller Larry Golin |
| Based on | Ni el tiro del final by José Pablo Feinmann |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Wendy Blackstone |
| Cinematography | Daniel Shulman |
| Edited by | Darren Kloomok |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Tri-Star Pictures Líder Films (1999, Argentina) |
Release date |
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Running time | 95 minutes |
| Country | Argentina United States |
| Language | English |
Plot synopsis
Jack (Denis Leary) is a world-weary pianist and writer in a lounge named the Blue Cat. His wife, Vicki (Aitana Sánchez-Gijón), is a songstress who has a way with the "pseudo-Gershwin" tunes her husband writes. The couple is desperately poor after 10 years of touring crummy clubs.
Meanwhile, Fred Moore (Terence Stamp), the club owner, is captivated by the beauty of Vicki. Moore is married to a wealthy woman, known only as Mrs. Moore (Marj Dusay), whom he admits to having married for her money. Although Fred is a faithful husband, the jealous Mrs. Moore has hired Eddie (Michael Badalucco), a private detective who happens to be an old friend of Jack's, to gather evidence of Fred's infidelity. Having come up with nothing, the sleazy detective begs Jack to help by arranging for Vicki to seduce Fred in front of a hidden camera. Together Jack, Vicky and Eddie plan to blackmail Moore.
At the same time Jack is also writing a crime short story set in the 1930s, a noiresque crime thriller, which the viewer sees inter cut in imaginary scenes as Jack narrates. This secondary narration is also a telling of what happens with Jack and Vicki in a different and subtle way.
Cast
- Denis Leary as Jack Hanaway
- Terence Stamp as Fred Moore
- Aitana Sánchez-Gijón as Vicky Rivas
- Michael Badalucco as Eddie Bianco
- Danny Nucci as Cousin Matt
- Marj Dusay as Mrs. Moore
- Neal Huff as Howard
- J.K. Simmons as Mr. Shulman
- Moira Kelly as Vera
- Justin Lazard as Lenny
- Rocco Sisto as Ilm Zamsky
- Gene Canfield as Joey
- Jimmy McQuaid as Young Howard
- Murphy Guyer as Howard's Boss
- Paul Eagle as Landlord
- Fiddle Viracola as Aunt Ethel
- Jeremy Webb as Hampton's Waiter
- Gregory Scanlon as Valet
- Gary DeWitt Marshall as Broken Ivory Bartender
- D.C. Benny as Comedian
- Patrick Boll as Porter
Reception
Dennis Schwartz gave the film a grade D.[1]
Roger Ebert gave the film 2 out of 4.[2] Stephen Holden of the New York Times wrote: "Nothing in "Love Walked In" makes psychological or even economic sense. In one preposterous plot turn after another, the movie does awkward somersaults to try to drum up tension and generate heat."[3]
References
- Dennis Schwartz (1999-04-14). "Love Walked In". Dennis Schwartz Reviews.
- Ebert, Roger (February 20, 1998). "Love Walked In movie review & film summary (1998)". Chicago Sun-Times.
- Stephen Holden (February 20, 1998). "'Love Walked in': Torch Songs and a Suspicious Wife". New York Times.