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Liens secrets

Original title: This World, Then the Fireworks
  • 1997
  • 12
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
5.2/10
1.4K
YOUR RATING
Gina Gershon and Billy Zane in Liens secrets (1997)
In 1950s, two incestuous lovers, a depraved suave journalist and his equally depraved prostitute sister, plan to get rich through seduction and murder. Things complicate when their feeble-minded mother begins to suspect something.
Play trailer1:48
1 Video
69 Photos
Dark ComedyCrimeDrama

In 1950s, two incestuous lovers, a depraved suave journalist and his equally depraved prostitute sister, plan to get rich through seduction and murder. Things complicate when their feeble-mi... Read allIn 1950s, two incestuous lovers, a depraved suave journalist and his equally depraved prostitute sister, plan to get rich through seduction and murder. Things complicate when their feeble-minded mother begins to suspect something.In 1950s, two incestuous lovers, a depraved suave journalist and his equally depraved prostitute sister, plan to get rich through seduction and murder. Things complicate when their feeble-minded mother begins to suspect something.

  • Director
    • Michael Oblowitz
  • Writers
    • Jim Thompson
    • Larry Gross
  • Stars
    • Billy Zane
    • Gina Gershon
    • Christian Durango
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.2/10
    1.4K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Michael Oblowitz
    • Writers
      • Jim Thompson
      • Larry Gross
    • Stars
      • Billy Zane
      • Gina Gershon
      • Christian Durango
    • 33User reviews
    • 18Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:48
    Trailer

    Photos69

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    Top cast41

    Edit
    Billy Zane
    Billy Zane
    • Marty Lakewood
    Gina Gershon
    Gina Gershon
    • Carol Lakewood Morton
    Christian Durango
    • Little Marty Lakewood
    Sloan Cobb
    • Little Carol
    Roberta Hanley
    Roberta Hanley
    • Young Mrs. Lakewood
    Megan Leigh Brown
    • Young Carol
    Christopher Jones
    Christopher Jones
    • Young Marty
    Orson Oblowitz
    Orson Oblowitz
    • Eugene
    Philip Loch
    Philip Loch
    • Marty's Father
    Rue McClanahan
    Rue McClanahan
    • Mrs. Lakewood
    Richard Edson
    Richard Edson
    • Joe
    Norman Max Maxwell
    • Thug #1
    Matt O'Toole
    Matt O'Toole
    • Thug #2
    Mert Hatfield
    Mert Hatfield
    • Bus Driver
    Willy Cobbs
    • Blues Musician
    Elis Imboden
    • Neighbour's wife
    • (as Elisabeth Imboden)
    Marianna Alacchi
    Marianna Alacchi
    • Glenda
    Tom Keeley
    • Cousin Lyle
    • Director
      • Michael Oblowitz
    • Writers
      • Jim Thompson
      • Larry Gross
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews33

    5.21.4K
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    Featured reviews

    8pollystark

    Marvellous

    I really can't understand why this film has such a poor rating. I rented it totally randomly years ago and was absolutely entranced. It's about good people who do bad things, and bad people who do good things, and about the moral values of society. It has a wonderful visual style, portrays an amazingly consistent world.

    The whole film has an air of sadness pervading it that sticks with me five years on.

    Difficult viewing, but wonderful.

    If you see this for rent or cheap purchase anywhere, grab it and see one of the most individual and haunting films ever.
    5Doc_Who

    An interesting overlooked movie,worth a rental anyway!

    This movie is moslty overlooked at most video shelfs. They tend to place this movie in action. What this movie is a dark, thriller about two twins who are very good at being very bad. They later learn that they need each other to be able to live. The twins are played by Billy Zane(Titanic,Dead Calm,The Phantom) and Gina Gershon(Face/Off). Also along for the ride are Rue McClanahan(TV's The Golden Girls)as the twins mother, who eventtually discover's the twins deadly secrets. Co-starring in this thriller is Will Patton(Entrapment,The Postman,No Way Out). It is rated R for nudity, swearing , some shot outs and some deaths. If you want to see the movie leads in some times overlooked movie , check out this movie!!This movie is worth a rental anyway , even it seems a bit off the normal mainstream eye candy !!Just dont let the kids watch this till their old enough to understand the plot and other things that made this a R movie!1
    drspecter

    PERFECT COMBINATION OF DEADPAN CAMP AND STYLIZED VIOLENCE

    Billy Zane is perfect as the sociopathic Marty, and his voice-over narration IS the Jim Thompson novella. This World is simultaniously an overblown parody and a loving homage to not only Thompson, but fifties hardboiled thrillers in general. Gritty touches of realism mix with a nostalgiac 50s pastiche and stylized performances and camera work. Sure to be over the heads of most modern viewers (see above review) but if you love film noir, and especially the pulp novels that helped spawn it, this film is beautiful, hillarious, and genuinely misanthropic. All the performances are very accurate to the way the characters acted in the novella. Shot like a combination of a moving Edward Hopper painting and an Italian Giallo thriller. HIGHLY recommended!
    7Dr.X

    flawed but atmospheric neonoir thriller

    There are a lot of plot holes and implausibilities in this one, but overall I thought it was worth a look because Sheryl Lee gives a great performance that is full of emotion, conflict, and sensuality. Gina Gershon does a nice job too, and the small-town 1950's atmosphere is nicely done. The odd tension between the siblings is overplayed and some of the character's actions don't seem very credible to me, but still an interesting film as a one-off when better options aren't around.
    6okpilak

    Love it or hate it.

    Clearly a period piece movie, with a narration as the Billy Zane character goes through his motions. And rather amoral motions at that. He and his sister are very tight, and grew up in a very dysfunction setting. There is a lot of nudity, violence, and the Zane character is not a very nice person. He comes across as very entitled. Doesn't need money, as he is a leech. And his sister turns tricks to get along. It can be either off putting or fascinating and there probably is very little middle ground. A movie set in the 1950's and that age is captured very well. Even from how the movie titles were displayed before the movie began. Not for everyone, as it is very unsettling. Sort of like watching a car wreck. You don't want to see, but you can't stop peeking.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Pete Rugolo, the great jazz composer who wrote the music for this film was 88 years old at the time. He was the choice of both actor Billy Zane and Director Michael Oblowitz, who felt that he was the perfect choice for the film.
    • Goofs
      When Marty shoots the serviceman three times at the end of the movie, he charges his weapon before each shot is fired. The weapon is an M1 Carbine, which is semi-automatic and therefore self-loading after each round is fired. Charging the weapon the second and third times would eject two live rounds from the weapon.
    • Quotes

      Marty Lakewood: One gets work readily when the penalty for failure was a clubbing. You learn not to take 'no' for an answer.

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: Contact/This World, Then the Fireworks/A Simple Wish/4 Little Girls/The Big Sleep/Shall We Dance? (1997)
    • Soundtracks
      Strollin' on the Strip
      Written by Shakey Jake (as Jimmie D. Harris)

      Performed by Shakey Jake

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    FAQ18

    • How long is This World, Then the Fireworks?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 24, 1999 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • This World, Then the Fireworks
    • Filming locations
      • Wilmington, North Carolina, USA
    • Production companies
      • Balzac's Shirt
      • JVC Entertainment Networks
      • Largo Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $51,618
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $19,906
      • Jul 13, 1997
    • Gross worldwide
      • $51,618
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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