Bound (1996)
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A gun moll and an ex-convict hatch a daring plot to steal millions from a mobster's operation.
The story
In a gritty neo-noir setting, Violet, a woman trapped in a dangerous relationship with a mobster named Caesar, finds an unexpected connection with Corky, an ex-convict working nearby. After witnessing the brutal reality of Caesar's life as a money launderer for the Mafia, Violet decides she needs to escape. She convinces Corky to help her execute a high-stakes plan: stealing $2 million in cash that Caesar is preparing to move. The two women must navigate a tense, high-stakes game of deception and survival as they attempt to seize the money and secure a new life, all while staying one step ahead of the violent underworld surrounding them.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Corky, an ex-convict, is hired to work in an apartment building where she meets Violet and her mobster boyfriend, Caesar. After a clandestine affair between the two women, Violet reveals she wants to escape Caesar's life of crime. They hatch a plan to steal $2 million in Mafia money that Caesar is currently holding. The plot becomes complicated when a conflict between two rival mobsters, Gino and Johnnie, leads to a violent confrontation. After a series of tense maneuvers and a tense standoff involving a third party, the truth of the theft is revealed. Caesar captures the women, but a final confrontation ensues. Violet eventually kills Caesar and, along with Corky, escapes to start a new life together.
- First release year
- 1996
- Runtime (minutes)
- 108
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- The Wachowskis
- Writers
- The Wachowskis · writer
- Genres
- neo-noir; crime thriller; erotic; independent
- Themes
- the boxes people make of their lives; being trapped; lesbian identity
- Tone and mood
- noir; darkly comical; tense
- Premise and plot tags
- heist; romance; crime; noir
- Content notes
- sex; violence
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews for its style, direction, and realistic portrayal of a lesbian relationship, though some critics criticized the plot as superficial and the violence as excessive. It has since developed a cult following, particularly among LGBTQ audiences.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 64 · scale: 100 · review count: 19
- Awards and nominations
- Grand Jury Award—Honorable Mention · L.A. Outfest · 1996 · win; Honorable Mention · Stockholm International Film Festival · 1996 · win
- Production trivia
- The film was the Wachowskis' feature film directorial debut.; The film was made on a tight budget of $6 million.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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