À contre-courant

This movie is misguiding, since this is not your brainless action flick Lorenzo "I have a father and a mother too" Lamas is associated with. The problem is that, instead, we get a boring, slow-moving, predictable "suspense" with a plot straight out of zillions direct-to-video movies, where Lamas' "interpretation" of his "character" sinks it to new depths (who ever asked him to be an actor anyway ?) The only good point for this turkey are the competent diirection and good cinematography - plus the fact that the French video wasn't pan&scanned.

What is terrific about this film is that it is not a basic blood & guts Lorenzo Llamas story. Llamas actually does a very effective job as an almost naive nightclub manager in Puerto Rico, who soon finds himself in over his head in a cleverly plotted story filled with unexpected twists and turns. I love the photography throughout the film, and particularly the wonderful scenes shot in Old San Juan and the terrific seascapes that the director used as a backdrop. Brenda Strong is an exciting femme fatale and counterpoint to Llamas. You may remember her as "The Braless Wonder" on Sienfeld in which she had a recurring role. She is certainly more than braless in this film! I thought that the supporting cast all fit their roles perfectly: particular kudos to Christianne Gout (what a body); Frank Vincent (everybody's favorite bad guy from Scorsese film fame, e.g. Casino, Goodfellas); and my personal favorite, Daniel Lugo who played a Latin Columbo-type. Overall, the film exceeded my expectations from both story, photography, directorial approach and acting. Afterall, Hollywood doesn't make B-film thrillers like this anymore.

Mike Aguayo(Lamas) is a strange combination of naive friend and ex-cop,ex-con. He's got a good heart but he's a little weak on the moral issues. There is the friend(ex-partner) who is setting him up for the second time. There is the girl who loves him and the woman he is being paid to seduce but who he would willingly follow on his own without any kind of encouragement. In fact, the harder time she gives him the more he has to have her. But she is the one who has him just where she wants him. Thank God for a fair minded police detective with even better instincts who is willing to put himself on the line to find the truth! It would be wrong not to mention bedroom scenes with both women. I'm still trying to figure what it is they are doing in the first one!

I'm a big Lorenzo Lamas fan so I'm going to love anything he does. This picture was different from the kind of films he usually is in (macho action stuff). This was more like a twist and turn type thriller and I loved him in it. I thought the way the film was sold was very misleading however (it was sold like an action film). I was pleasantly surprised but think it was unfairly marketed. Other than the story I thought the picture really looked great. The director and cinematographer did a very nice job.

As an avid fan of Lorenzo Lamas, I really enjoyed this movie. I liked the character he played and it wasn't over the top or over -acted. I thought they could have chosen a better female lead, however. I don't think Lorenzo fans will be disappointed.