FEELING MINNESOTA (1996)

Written & Directed By: Steven Baigelman 
Cinematography: Walt Lloyd 
Editor: Martin Walsh & Thom Noble 
Music By: Los Lobos 

Cast: Keanu Reeves, Cameron Diaz, Delroy Lindo, Vincent D’Onofrio, Tuesday Weld, Courtney Love, Dan Aykroyd 


Freddie is a former stripper marrying Sam to repay a debt owed to nightclub owner Red. But Freddie is in love with Jjaks, Sam's brother. Jjaks and Freddie run off together, and Sam finds where they have been hiding and calls the cops. Meanwhile someone calls to blackmail Sam and Jjaks. In the end will it all work out?


This is one of the first films that truly broke my heart when it came to expectation because from the preview I pretty much expected another TRUE ROMANCE. As you had quirky casting, a classic actor in a minor role, lovers on the run who are somehow involved with small town underworld players. What could go wrong?

Other than it being another film that was indebted to Quentin Tarantino’s style without any of the subtlety. As it tries to be a Midwest caper film ala FARGO, only here more modern of lovers in the run. As it comes off as a film trying to take in all the fads and pop culture of the time and be a crime story for Generation X.

Well none of the characters are likeable in fact most are hate worthy. Even in Tarantino films the characters might be loathsome but they have some charm and something that keeps you interested in them. Here even the main characters are either dull or hate worthy all they have going for them is their looks.

The characters are not only cruel but they are treated beyond cruelly by others so that you can understand why they way they are but never find out why they are treated so bad by others. You can see what drives Cameron Diaz’s Character and Keanu Reeves and his brother have some weird Insane rivalry that makes them dislike one Another.

Cameron Diaz gets to play her most believable and effective femme Fatale. Who even has slut tattooed on her by the crime lord she is in debt to. Though throughout with her luck in life we generally learn why she is the way she is. Though there are elements that are too much. Like at the wedding Vincent D'onofrio wearing what looks like a ruffled prom Tuxedo. Or Tuesday weld being in the movie for only one scene.

The few scenes that really are affected are scenes that seem to cut through the fantasy of this being a movie and are more hard hitting so that they make the story and film feel realistic. Like the strangling death of a certain character and their sibling having to watch and being able to do nothing about it and can’t look away as it seems to happen in real time. Or when characters are shot they actually Feel pain and can be tortured as they don’t immediately get the bullet taken out.

The film plays that way in tone where it wants to be this gritty crime story of lovers on the run, but it also want to be silly in it’s Comedy and scenes of sibling rivalry. Which doesn’t meld very well. Then it want to be erotic in it’s Rough sex scenes. Then it seeks to be funny but then becomes brutally violent

The film certainly gets sexual but then makes you question are the two on the run really in love or do they just have good sexual chemistry and are using each other while being forced to go on the run with one another.

Vincent D’onofiro is the only one here who escapes the film unfazed as even as a kind of sleazy accountant for a crime syndicate and hating his brother. You see that he actually was in love with Cameron Diaz’s character and beloved once married she would learn to love him and he is generally hurt she not only cheated and ran away but with his biggest enemy.

I even read the novelization of this movie. That was how much I was looking forward to it.

What certainly didn’t help this Film was the seemingly similar film A LIFE LESS ORDINARY another film about two people on the run who eventually Fall in love. Though that film has a bit of fantasy and is more quirky based. Though has tons more style and oddly works.

All in all this movie is a major disappointment though considering all the talent involved it should be much better. As they try and seem invested but it’s not enough. Even as the potential is there. Though don’t take My word for it as maybe i took it’s disappointing quality personal. It should be noted writer/Director Steven Baigelman never made another film.
 
Grade: F