Year of Release: 1990
Director: John Schlesinger
Starring: Melanie Griffith, Michael Keaton, Matthew Modine, Laurie Metcalfe, Mako, Carl Lumbly, Dorian Harewood, Luca Bercovici, Tippi Hedren, Guy Boyd, Jerry Hardin, Beverly D'Angelo, O-Lan Jones
Genre: Thriller
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 5
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Synopsis and Review:
Celebrated director John Schlesinger followed his well received "Madame Sousatzka" with a splashier and more visible endeavor, which came in the shape of "Pacific Heights", which incidentally was the first released feature screenplay for acclaimed screenwriter Daniel Pyne (following a prolific career writing for several TV shows in the 80s). The film was also one of the first and most visible ones for Scott Rudin, the well known producer, who started his career in the 80s, and who has of course since then become a staple for literary and award winning material. The film follows the story of couple Patty and Drake, who after living together for a while, decide to buy a beautiful, yet in need of renovation, house in the San Francisco area of Pacific Heights. In order to make the finances work, the couple decides to renovate the house, but also rent the bottom area in two distinct apartments. One of those apartments falls under the attention of what appears to be a man of means, the polite Carter Hayes. Without so much signing a contract, he moves in, and starts avoiding Patty and Drake, not paying rent, and generally doing huge noise in the apartment, much to their shock and consternation. Their attempts to evict him are futile, costly, which puts them in further financial stress, causing Drake to drink and Patty to miscarriage. Unbeknownst to Patty and Drake, Carter has a much darker agenda of his own, which wreaks havoc on their existence.
"Pacific Heights" is a thriller that manages to create a sense of unease by firstly building a familiar scenario, and suddenly populating it with a situation that is both extraordinary and menacing. The film builds the scenario for the characters progressively, and as the idyllic situation starts collapsing, it's interesting to see the other dimension to these characters. The film aims to build empathy with the viewers, by asking us to embrace Patty and Drake, and confront the dastardly behavior exhibited by Carter Hayes, who has made a living out of scamming people. In a way this is a similar concept to the "Grifter" concept, which Stephen Frears captured so well in the film with the same title, but the view here sits with the victims, and how they go about getting their comeuppance. The central characters however are not very drawn out, but it's a testament to Melanie Griffith and Michael Keaton's talent, that they both manage to embody them with sufficient credibility to warrant attention. It's a film that really needed to invest a bit deeper on motivations and character development, but whose decision of making it a more standard thriller, also makes it slightly more forgettable. The cinematography from Amir Mokri is impeccable, as is the score from Hans Zimmer. A watchable but minor film from a talented director.
"Pacific Heights" is a thriller that manages to create a sense of unease by firstly building a familiar scenario, and suddenly populating it with a situation that is both extraordinary and menacing. The film builds the scenario for the characters progressively, and as the idyllic situation starts collapsing, it's interesting to see the other dimension to these characters. The film aims to build empathy with the viewers, by asking us to embrace Patty and Drake, and confront the dastardly behavior exhibited by Carter Hayes, who has made a living out of scamming people. In a way this is a similar concept to the "Grifter" concept, which Stephen Frears captured so well in the film with the same title, but the view here sits with the victims, and how they go about getting their comeuppance. The central characters however are not very drawn out, but it's a testament to Melanie Griffith and Michael Keaton's talent, that they both manage to embody them with sufficient credibility to warrant attention. It's a film that really needed to invest a bit deeper on motivations and character development, but whose decision of making it a more standard thriller, also makes it slightly more forgettable. The cinematography from Amir Mokri is impeccable, as is the score from Hans Zimmer. A watchable but minor film from a talented director.
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