Coincidences might play important part in life, but to rely on them as the tool of personal success is an exercise in futility. This is the lesson obviously not learned by the protagonist of Trouble Bound, 1993 action comedy directed by Jeffrey Reiner. Harry Talbot (played by Michael Madsen) is recently released convict whose only talent seems to be poker. Harry displays such talent in the game with his former associates and wins some money and new car, not knowing that the trunk contains the body of petty gangster. Harry drives to Las Vegas and along the way meets Kit Califano (played by Patricia Arquette), good-looking and fast-talking girl on the run from some nasty characters. Partly out of compassion, partly because he likes her, and definitely against his better judgement, Harry decides to take her as travelling companion. He would soon regret that decision because Kit is not what she seems to be - her real aim is to kill Santino (played by Seymour Cassel), mobster who had killed her father, member of the mafia family led by her grandmother (played by Florence Stanley). Grandmother doesn't want mafia war so she sent goons to prevent Kit's murderous intentions. In the meantime, Harry's old "friends" realise that the murdered man had key of a safe containing plenty of money. As Harry and Kit travel to Vegas, they don't know that they are going to encounter trouble from two different directions.
Trouble Bound could be best described as poor man's True Romance. Both movies share not only elements of the plot (couple on the run from the villains) or somewhat dubious moral stance - they also share some of the cast. Most notable is Patricia Arquette, although the character of Kit bares little resemblance to the character of Alabama in True Romance. Her partner Michael Madsen gives this film Tarantinoesque credentials, although his "tough guy with a heart of gold" character is far from psychopathic Mr. Blonde. The presence of those two future stars, as well as some well known character actors (Cassell, Billy Bob Thornton) can't hide the film's low budget or Jeffrey Reiner's lack of directorial skills. The film, shot on Arizona locations, looks cheap and the music by Vinny Golia doesn't help either. But the script is very good and for the most part the audience is going to accept even some of the preposterous plot points. The ending is weak and somewhat anti-cathartic but Trouble Bound is mercifully short, thus leaving mostly good impression and turning this little known film into real "guilty pleasure" for all those who got hooked on Tarantino films in mid 1990s.
RATING: 5/10 (++)
(Note: The text in its original form was posted in Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.movies.reviews on March 25th 2003)
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