Jade (1995)

There is too much gratuitous sex.There is too much gratuitous sex.The climax, shot in half light, is confusing since four or five cops, DA's, killers, suspects, are wrestling around. Who's fighting with whom?Someone said it was a "Mess." In truth, it wasn't that good.The film was short on story. Friedkin like cars chases. "Jade" has 3. Uh, maybe 2. Uh, maybe 1. If you see this film, you'll quickly understand why I'm unclear about the chases. At least I know this: About 20% of the running time deals with cars in trouble and David Caruso violently swinging the steering wheel, yelling in fear, screaming in anger. Or is it the other way around?Of course, the sound editor used the stock horn sound, the one that echoes as it fades.I gave this a 1 because they don't allow negative numbers.In summary: "Jade" stinks.

A trashy, kinky, entertaining erotic thriller, in the "Basic Instinct" vein, if not in the same league. Both films are mainly set in San Francisco and are scripted by Joe Eszterhas; his story this time is partly predictable (there is one famous actor who doesn't appear to have much of a role, so you can tell they're saving him for something big at the end) but still sufficiently twisty-turny. David Caruso is a weak lead, but he is surrounded by a strong supporting cast. The technical credits (editing, music, cinematography) are top-notch, and there is a car chase sequence that is both spectacular and original; the part of it that goes through a Chinatown parade is not quite like anything I have seen before. If you liked "Color Of Night" with Bruce Willis, you'll probably like this film as well. **1/2 out of 4.

Jade has a pretty straight forward story with a murder and a love triangle between the three main characters. Because of the love triangle, it creates a conflict of interest between the two male characters. The plot sounds interesting enough. However, the way the final product was executed did not deliver an exhilarating or satisfactory story, conclusion, or thriller. Although, the unrated version, which is 12 mints longer, does assist in creating additional development for some of the characters.The film does inhabit i think some of Friedkin's finest work. An example would be the car chases sequence, which is in fact one of the most spectacular and thrilling chases ever filmed. I think it's his best to date. Cinematography for the film is beautiful and very noir like in the night scenes. Although he did a decent job with directing the leading characters, only Chazz Palminteri came across as really inhabiting his character. To me the problem with the film is that the story probably got lost in the editing or through rewrites.The bluray for this film, by Lionsgate, is one of the worst transfers I've ever seen. I wish paramount would put out both version of the film on a bluray. The theatrical version is not impressive at all but the unrated cut does a better job.

Jade is a who killings who thriller, sexy, violent and very stylish. Caruso is so cool as the D.A., and watch him when he gets behind the wheel, when seeing him in two riveting scenes. A powerful political figure, who has a lot of dirt on people, is murdered quite gruesomely in this Basic instinctish, no surprise penned by the same guy, who must be the envy of budding or established screen writers. One of the suspects, is a old flame of Caruso's (Fiorentino-sexy as hell in lingerie) who unfortunately ended up marrying his more successful lawyer friend, (Chazz, can't spell his last name) and Caruso shows his hidden envy well. So we got a love triangle, to complicate matters. More suspects surface, mostly political ones, as the more obsessed Caruso, delves deeper into this investigation, thus, more killings ensue, linked to the illustrious faceless hottie, nicknamed Jade. He so wants to clear Fiorentino, it may kill him. Jade rides high on style, that I so much appreciated, with powerful performances by all, and a tight script, a puzzle if you will, you'd like to dissect, again open ended like Instinct, followed by a shock admittance, but may'be it's the sleazy elements, over the top/sick if stylish violence, and some unsavoury characters that bring it down. It is great too, to see warring D.A., Biehn and Caruso, go at each other, plus have a veteran kinky cop, as Caruso's sidekick. I can't find myself to rate it higher than the score I've given it, although deep down, as a fan of Eszterhas's writing, (I love every movie I've seen, that he's written) Jade is a guilty pleasure. I write my reviews on quality. Big difference me liking them, as I like this one a lot. I mean, it even makes pussy hair look stylish. A cut scene, prior to it's last, in another version I saw, kind of put a rain on my parade, as far as Caruso's intentions were concerned.