Search - Unsavory Characters on DVD

Entertaining homage to film noir mysteries

Richard W. Haines | Croton-on-Hudson, New York United States | 02/01/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Unsavory Characters" is an entertaining homage to those film noir mysteries of the forties and fifties. I was surprised at
the number of plot twists including one at the end I didn't see
coming. The unknown actors are very good. Eric Lefler reminded me of John Garfield and Jacqueline Bowman is a very good femme fatale. I think she could be a star if she gets the right role. Anthony Peraticos is sweaty and creepy. The gangsters look type cast. There is some nudity and violence. The sex scene when the girl eats the money and meows like a cat was weird.The film has stylish photography. Part of it was shot in B&W and it definately looks like an old film noir with lots of dark shadows. The color portions look like Technicolor. I thought the jazz music was moody. I liked the song she sings in the nightclub too although it went on too long. The stereo has no surrounds but considering the type of story it is, it didn't bother me.The commentary by the director is very interesting. I learned about the history of film noir movies. It's like a film class. The stills aren't too good and there's a picture of a bird that wasn't in the movie. The picture of the director makes him look sinister which is amusing. The trailor is arty. I liked the intercutting between sex and violence and title cards. Overall, a good DVD that's fun to watch."