Delusion

Delusion is successful not for the plot or storyline; nor for the dialogue in the film, but for the interesting development of the three main characters. One is a businessman who is embezzling money to make an investment in Reno, a second is a quirky young woman who is sexually attractive, and the third is the young woman's Pitt/DeCaprio lookalike, who is supposedly a professional hitman (I think not). Depending on the goodwill of a passerby is not exactly the best plan for a hit. The film is very entertaining, and a lot of fun, but much of it makes very little sense. This is supposed to be why the film is interesting; because it makes little sense. It has a bit of Tarrantino element, and there is a bit of a satisfaction at the end, but the plot has more holes than Death Valley. First of all, there really is no protagonist to root for. All three of the major characters are lowlifes and relatively despicable. However, one is a corporate lowlife, while the other two are just your normal run of the mill white trash lowlifes. Of all three, the young woman is about the only one that has any type of moral structure; however loose it may be. The corporate character is relatively uninteresting and boring, and the hit man is way over the top. So what you have is pretty much a mess that is like watching a 20 car pileup. You can't take your eyes off of it, but it is really just a big mess. But it is fun to watch.

Delusion is not a bad rendition of modern film noir, but it could be a WHOLE lot better if the characters in this movie were not so stupid, particularly the main character.

The jist of it is that a head executive of a computer company makes off with a hefty amount of cash after a company takeover. On his way to Reno, he runs into two very strange people who claim they need a lift to town. As it turns out, these people were expecting him because one of them have a contract out on the executive's life.

I say the characters are idiots because, and this especially goes for the main character (the executive), there is always ample opportunity for either one to kill another (there are many time when the executive and his hired killer both have guns to each other's heads) or for one person to get away (particularly the girl who's joined up with the killer. Except, no one ever seems to take that very fortunate opportunity, and so it becomes a very frustrating story to watch, knowing that the plot only continues because of idiotic hesitancy. I blame the writers for that, trying to fill in the wholes with impractical luck. Good modern film noir may give a slight opportuntity for getting away, but if the person decides to take it very quickly, they should be met with resistance equally quickly.

The story is nothing new. It's pretty much about a few cold-hearted murderers and one sleazy executive after a trunkload of cash, each pushed to the limit on what they're willing to do for the money. Typical film noir material.

But I think for many to enjoy this one, you'd just have to like trash crime and mystery tales, or enjoy the actors who appear in the film.

A film is adequate when it entertains. It is good if you want to watch it more than once. And a great movie is one that creates unforgettable characters and a story that leaves you with the feeling that, at some level, you have been transformed by it.

"Delusion" goes even farther. Even as the story begins, it manages to give the viewer an ominous sense of impending danger. The plot unfolds quickly, taking a yuppie-ish embezzler named George O'Brien (played to perfection by Jim Metzler) on a lonely stretch of highway leading from Southern California to Reno, Nevada. There he encounters a luckless couple who have wrecked their car. Agreeing to give them a ride to the next town, O'Brien soon realizes that he is in bad company.

The way in which the personalities of the two riders are unveiled shows the true genius of this film. The pair consists of Chevy, a totally ruthless sociopath and hired gun (Kyle Secor) and Patty, a troubled Las Vegas showgirl and part-time prostitute (Jennifer Rubin). Every word, every gesture, every visual image and facial expression in this film is carefully nuanced to give depth to these mysterious and threatening characters.

Secor's Chevy is at once pretentious, arrogant and vulnerable, a genuinely intriguing and complex villain. But Rubin as Patty is even more of an enigma.

A tragic background is hinted in Patty's chilling reaction to violence. She comes across as vulgar in a sensuous way, intelligent but ill-bred, the consummate wounded survivor of a hard life. Yet, on a different level, she shows courage and cleverness. Rubin is absolutely amazing in this role. She brings uncommon realism to that "girl from the wrong side of the tracks" who finds herself in an abusive and shallow relationship but never succumbs to it. Her life is clearly shaped by lack of options, yet when faced with choices, she responds in surprising but entirely believable fashion.

This film could never have developed its remarkable depth without the breathtakingly surreal scenery of Death Valley and the awesome emptiness in which the story unfolds. The spectacular beauty of the location and its eerie remoteness are the perfect backdrop for a film that is, at is core, a harrowing, entrancing tale about society's misfits.

Over the years, "Delusion" has developed a well-deserved cult following. It is a shame that this film has not yet been made available on DVD. From start to finish, it never veers off track, never misses a beat. It is plausible and intelligent and utterly mesmerizing. They just don't make them any better than this.

I looked around this web site and saw nothing that points out that Delusion is only available on VHS, which does the typical pan and scan butchering job on it. This is a widescreen film that can only been seen in widescreen on laserdisc. Remember laserdisc? This site used to be dedicated to it. Anyway, I think some are overrating this movie. Its not a bad film, its just not the masterpiece its being made out to be. Delusion does have that lonely highway thriller feel and some kooky characters, one of them being the very sexy Jennifer Rubin who's body is made for the cinema. The entertainment is in waiting for the next twist on the hot open road film locales. It's mostly B movie actors performing slightly above the norm, and that's where the freshness lies. Don't forget to sit through the credits if you want to see the further sexiness of Jennifer Rubin as she dances to a wicked cover of "These Boots Are Made For Walk'in".

Given a choice between this film and 'Snowboard Academy' take the later. Its way more entertaining. Something about the Death Valley desert locale just doesn't ring true. The huge lake for instance is out of place along with the entire cast. Jerry Orbach must have been desperate for work !