A brilliant film that helped define a genre

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

From the middle tier of what we know as being Neo-Noir, Twisted is a frustrating experience. Right off the bat the cast list boasts weighty worth, giving us the promise of a dramatic thriller, filmed on location in Frisco, with misty lenses, lamp lights, waterside moods etc, it's set up a treat. As is the premise...Ashley Judd stars as a newly promoted hot-shot police detective, who in quality noir traditions has a whole heap of problems going on. Her family back story is shattering, she herself is heavily reliant on alcohol and she likes casual sex with strangers, strangers who start turning up dead, the kicker of which sees her basically investigating herself as a the prime suspect! Unfortunately with everything in place the pic never shifts out of first gear. The red herrings stack up, but nothing with any real conviction, and the whole premise starts to get monotonous, worse still the big reveal really isn't a surprise. There was a raft of these type of films in the 80s and 90s that were done much better, and on completion of viewing this effort one hankers for those pics - not to mention for the film noir of old!Ashley Judd always frustrates, one can see a very good actress in her body of work, but she's more often than not starring in so so thrillers. It can possibly be argued that her co-star Andy Garcia is a great actor who hasn't reached the heights he should have, the days of The Untouchables and Godfather III seeming to be fleeting glimpses of talent. Here he gets a thankless role that's poorly written, while both Samuel L. Jackson and David Strathairn add nice touches but aren't asked to extend themselves. Directed by Phillip Kaufman who as with Rising Sun, here also looks out of his comfort zone with the genre. But the presence of Mulholland Dr. DOP Peter Deming is noticeable and one of the pics strengths. 5/10

Jessica Shepard (Ashley Judd) is an up and coming San Francisco police inspector after catching a killer. Her mentor John Mills (Samuel L. Jackson) is the commissioner who is also her father's former police partner. She has a dark sexual side and her psychiatrist Dr. Melvin Frank (David Strathairn) wants to dig into her father's series of killings including her mother and himself. Her ex-partner and lover Jimmy Schmidt (Mark Pellegrino) is possessive of her. She get promoted into Homicide with new partner Mike Delmarco (Andy García). She faces a hostile group of detectives. Then she starts blacking out and losing time. Her sexual flings starts getting murdered by a serial killer.It starts as an OK creepy noirish dark vibe. It pushes too hard sometimes but it's not bad. First off, she shouldn't be passing out like she's been drugged. It takes away the possibility that she is actually the one doing the killing. There is a paranoia with that possibility that is completely missing. The audience assumes that she's not the killer. The movie would be better without that assumption. Then the twisty thriller lacks the execution. It's all dark. The mystery isn't there. None of the characters are compelling. It's a thriller without thrills.

I know this movie has many bad reviews. However,I found it suspenseful and it kept me in my chair. Yes, it was obvious in many ways, and one or two scenes were contrary to anybody's logic, but what movie doesn't have a few of those. So I kept watching as it had many twists and turns to keep me interested. No pun intended. I kept guessing who the bad guy was or wasn't, and I was surprised more than once. I already like Ashley Judd, Andy Garcia and Samuel Jackson, so maybe I'm just a tiny bit biased. But I'm honest in my scoring, and I watch more than my share of movies.Although, I just watched it for the first time in March 2013, it's a 2004 release. I don't know how I missed this one when it was released.I enjoyed it very much. Overall, "That's Entertainment".

This one is a bit muddled and mundane. There isn't much here that is remarkable or even interesting for that matter. The obvious indulgences such as drinking then passing out unawares and waking up with murder at hand, then drinking again and again. Not likely behavior from an intelligent, albeit confused, inspector.There seems to be a lack of persona to the people who populate this anemic, yet somehow withstanding, crime film that is neither totally suspenseful or very intelligent. There is a lack of energy in the unfolding and everyone seems rather bored by it all.The movie has enough superficial surroundings to glide through a mystery and the cast delivers enough professionalism to this pedestrian picture, and it is entertaining enough. But the mediocrity here meanders and one is left with a rather unfeeling resolve and more confusion than conviction.