Jade (film)
| Jade | |
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 Original poster |
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| Directed by | William Friedkin |
| Produced by | Gary Adelson Craig Baumgarten Robert Evans |
| Written by | Joe Eszterhas William Friedkin (uncredited) |
| Starring | David Caruso Linda Fiorentino Chazz Palminteri Richard Crenna Angie Everhart Michael Biehn |
| Music by | James Horner |
| Cinematography | Andrzej Bartkowiak |
| Editing by | Angie Hess |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
| Release date(s) | October 13, 1995 |
| Running time | 95 minutes Unrated version: 107 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $50,000,000 |
| Box office | $9,851,610 |
Jade is a 1995 erotic thriller film written by Joe Eszterhas, produced by Robert Evans, directed by William Friedkin and starring David Caruso, Linda Fiorentino, Chazz Palminteri, Richard Crenna and Michael Biehn. The original music score was composed by James Horner. The film was marketed with the tagline "Some fantasies go too far."
An unrated version featuring additional scenes and more explicit sexual footage with an extra 12 minutes was later released to VHS, though it is now out of print; the theatrical cut was utilized for the DVD and Blu-ray editions. The unrated versions for DVD, LaserDisc and Blu-Ray were cancelled due to poor sales of the unrated VHS version.
According to Eszterhas' autobiography, Friedkin changed the script so much that Eszterhas threatened to remove his name from the credits. He claimed Paramount settled by giving him a "blind script deal" worth two to four million dollars.[1]
In an interview in Linda Ruth Williams' book The Erotic Thriller in Contemporary Cinema, Friedkin admitted that he had virtually rewritten the script.[2] But Friedkin also said that Jade was the favorite of all the films he had made.[3]
Just prior to the film's release, David Caruso decided that his popularity as star of the hit ABC TV series NYPD Blue would provide enough momentum to successfully make the risky jump from television leading man, to feature film leading man. Unfortunately, Caruso's role in the film was a huge departure from the traditionally heroic role that had made him a hit with American TV viewers. Despite a large marketing campaign, moviegoers did not accept Caruso's drastic change of character, or the dark and overly sexual themes of the film. Jade was a huge failure at the box office and with movie critics. This, combined with a starring role in a second box office flop released the same year—ironically, entitled Kiss of Death -- killed Caruso's movie career. (Comeback roles in television failed until he landed the lead role in CBS' 2002 spinoff series, CSI: Miami). Jade scored a 16% "rotten" rating from Rotten Tomatoes, and grossed less than $9 million domestically while in theaters. It also earned two Golden Raspberry Award nominations for Worst Screenplay and Worst New Star (Caruso, twice—also, for Kiss of Death).
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[edit] Plot
San Francisco Assistant District Attorney, David Corelli (David Caruso), is called to the murder scene of prominent businessman Kyle Medford, found stabbed to death in his home by an antique hatchet. The lead detectives, Bob Hargrove (Michael Biehn) and Petey Vesko (Ken King), find photographs in Medford's safe of Governor Lew Edwards (Richard Crenna) having sex with a prostitute, later identified as Patrice Jacinto (Angie Everhart). During questioning, Patrice reveals that she and other women were paid by Medford to have sex with wealthy men at his beach house in Pacifica. She also informs them that the most desired prostitute among the clients was a woman known only as "Jade."
Corelli meets with Governor Edwards and his aide Bill Barrett (Holt McCallany), where he is warned not to make the photographs public, lest the Governor ruin Corelli's career. Corelli is then almost killed when his brake line is deliberately cut and his vehicle goes out of control while driving down a steep hill. The detectives find fingerprints on the hatchet belonging to Katrina Gavin (Linda Fiorentino), a clinical psychologist and former lover of Corelli's that eventually married his close friend, defense attorney Matt Gavin (Chazz Palminteri). When interviewed, Katrina explains Medford gave her a tour of his antique collection on the day in question, but claims to have nothing to do with his death. At Medford's beach house, Corelli and the detectives find various drugs, alcohol, and sex toys as well as video cameras hidden in guest bedrooms. They conclude Medford was recording the sex sessions in order to blackmail the men. Corelli is shocked to discover Katrina on one of the tapes; the revelation renews the detectives interest in her as a suspect.
Patrice calls Corelli and arranges to meet him to discuss Jade's identity, but, prior to arriving, she is killed in a hit-and-run accident by an unknown assailant driving a black 1993 Ford Thunderbird. Corelli, witnessing the murder first-hand, chases the assailants' vehicle, but is unable to apprehend them. The detectives discover the Gavins own a black 1993 Ford Thunderbird and initially suspect Katrina of killing Patrice, but later find the actual vehicle used in the hit-and-run incident abandoned and determine someone may be trying to frame Katrina. Katrina is again brought in for questioning and shown the sex tape but Matt, in his capacity as her attorney, ends the interrogation before she fully explains her involvement. When confronted at their home by Matt, Katrina admits she had sex with the man on the tape, due in part to her knowledge of Matt's many affairs.
Katrina later visits Corelli at his apartment and tries unsuccessfully to seduce him, admitting she felt sexually liberated by sleeping with several men at the beach house, despite suspecting Medford of recording the sessions. Meanwhile, Justin Henderson (Jay Jacobus), the only witness to identify Katrina at the Pacifica beach house, is found murdered. Corelli informs the detectives at the crime scene that Katrina couldn't have killed him because she and Corelli were together at the time. Corelli rushes back to his apartment where he is met by Matt, who holds him at gunpoint and angrily accuses him of also having sex with Katrina. Corelli convinces Matt of his innocence and persuades him Katrina's life is in danger. Back at the Gavin home, Det. Hargrove and Governor's aide Barrett search for the incriminating photos of the Governor and Patrice. Hargrove tries to kill Katrina when she interrupts their search, but Corelli and Matt arrive and Matt shoots and kills Hargrove to save his wife.
Afterwards, Corelli meets with the Governor to assure Katrina's safety by leveraging his possession of the photographs. The Governor denies any knowledge of Hargrove's or Barrett's actions, but insinuates they were both acting on his behalf. As they get ready for bed, Katrina finds photographs laid out in her bathroom of her having sex with the men at the beach house. Matt admits to Katrina that he killed Medford because Medford would eventually blackmail them both. He assures her they have gotten away with the murder and then asks Katrina to "show him Jade" the next time they have sex.
[edit] Cast
- David Caruso as Assistant District Attorney David Corelli
- Linda Fiorentino as clinical psychologist Katrina Gavin
- Chazz Palminteri as defense attorney Matt Gavin
- Richard Crenna as Governor Lew Edwards
- Michael Biehn as Detective Bob Hargrove
- Angie Everhart as Patrice Jacinto
- Holt McCallany as Governor's aide Bill Barrett
- Ken King as Detective Petey Vesko
- Donna Murphy as Karen Heller
- Kevin Tighe as District Attorney Arnold Clifford
- Victor Wong as Mr. Wong
[edit] Unrated/NC-17 Director's Cut
USA, Cinemax, and WGN air the director's cut, including scenes originally cut to avoid a possible NC-17 rating.
[edit] References
- ^ Eszterhas, Joe (2004). Hollywood Animal. Random House Entertainm.. ISBN 3809030279.
- ^ William, Linda Ruth (2005). The Erotic Thriller in Contemporary Cinema. Indiana University Press. p. 139. ISBN 0253218365.
- ^ William, Linda Ruth (2005). The Erotic Thriller in Contemporary Cinema. Indiana University Press. p. 140. ISBN 0253218365.
[edit] External links
- Jade at the Internet Movie Database
- Jade at AllRovi
- Jade at Rotten Tomatoes
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