July 23rd: THE GRIFTERS (Stephen Frears, 1990)

A con artist is caught in a tug-of-war between his equally corrupt mother and girlfriend.

Jim Thompson was a a pulp crime novelist who was largely unappreciated during his lifetime, despite two collaborations with director Stanley Kubrick and critical support. Often writing through the point of view of mentally disturbed characters, his work was regarded as some of the darkest and most nightmarish in the genre.   After the posthumous mass reprinting of his books in the late 1980s, Thompson surged in popularity and three adaptations of his work appeared in 1990 alone, with more to follow.

The genesis of The Grifters adaptation came from Martin Scorsese, who elected to move to the producer's chair as he was in the middle of completing his own crime film GoodFellas. For his replacement Scorsese handpicked British director Stephen Frears, who had made critically acclaimed independent works (My Beautiful Laundrette, Prick Up Your Ears) as well as the successful period romance Dangerous Liaisons.

Another well-known crime writer, Donald E. Westlake, was brought in to adapt the novel, though apparently much of Thompson's original dialogue was retained. The cast is headed by John Cusack (a Thompson fan who had tried himself to option The Grifters) and Oscar-winner Anjelica Huston, striking in an atypical bleach-blonde wig. Newcomer Annette Bening adds further femme fatale quality in the role that would prove to be her breakthrough.

While Huston was initially reluctant to take the part, she researched her role in casinos and ultimately had great emotional distress after shooting certain difficult scenes. Cusack also researched heavily, becoming adept at slight-of-hand tricks with money, dice, and cards.

The film only did modest business, but received positive reviews, as well as critic's award notices for its actresses. It won Best Film and Best Actress (Huston) at the Independent Spirit Awards, and received Academy Award nominations for Frears, Huston, Bening, and Westlake's efforts.

Running time is approx. 2 hours.