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This World, Then the Fireworks

Play trailer Poster for This World, Then the Fireworks R Released Jul 11, 1997 1h 40m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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38% Tomatometer 8 Reviews 43% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
In this film adaptation of a book by novelist Jim Thompson, Marty (Billy Zane) and Carol Lakewood (Gina Gershon) are twins bound together by the horrors they endured as kids. When crooked police officers come after Marty, he is forced to go on the run, leaving his spouse and career behind and hiding out with Carol, who has turned to prostitution. Soon Marty and his sister begin to pull cons together while reigniting the strange, erotic relationship they indulged in as children.
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This World, Then the Fireworks

Critics Reviews

View All (8) Critics Reviews
Nicholas Bell IONCINEMA.com The padded screenplay takes the neo-noir notion of hardboiled and launches it right into a soupy camp stew. Rated: 2.5/5 Aug 27, 2020 Full Review Sean Axmaker Seanax.com It's a bizarre relationship, tender and respectful with a suggestively incestuous undercurrent that pulls at the story, like a schizophrenic, drug addled take on Tennessee Williams Mar 24, 2016 Full Review Adam Lippe Examiner.com Sheryl Lee, as the cop who Billy Zane is scamming and sleeping with gives such a terrible performance that is simultaneously absolutely perfect. She's the most accurate representative of the movie as a whole. Apr 16, 2012 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Elegantly stylish, intensely erotic, and slightly perverse, this rendition of Thomson's pulp novel is an art movie that's likely to divide sharply film critics and audiences--go for the ride. Rated: B Jan 8, 2007 Full Review Dragan Antulov rec.arts.movies.reviews Rated: 2/10 Oct 21, 2003 Full Review Oz eFilmCritic.com Rated: 1/5 Sep 26, 2002 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Bahad j This idea of ​​the film shooting technique director made the film more attractive to people. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/12/24 Full Review Audience Member NOSTALGIA SMOKES CIGARRETES COPS AND DETECTIVES AND IMPOSSIBLE RELATION SHIPS MAKE UP YOUR DECISION FREE WORLD OR BORING LIFETIME! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Audience Member Out there a bit, ok a lot , but.... I liked it Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/15/23 Full Review Audience Member (1997 Director: Michael Oblowitz) I enjoyed this movie, though admittedly it was a little difficult to watch two incredibly gorgeous twins (one female, one male) living off their looks in less than moral ways. Oddly enough gorgeous Billy Zane's character met misfortune from his legitimate undercover career, causing him to return home. Rue McClanahan was a bright spot as their mother. In reviewing Ms McClanahan's filmography, I was surprised to learn that I have seen few of her movies. Anyone remember her character in a personal favorite, Starship Troopers?? Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Audience Member Best movie ever from Gina and Billy Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Audience Member I love Jim Thompson novels, but of the film adaptations of his novels, this is the weakest. Good cast, decent script, but the movie is wrecked by a distractingly over-directed style. You can tell the director was trying to recreate the style of classic noir, but those attempts at "style" come off as simply style for styles sake. Stick with other superior Thompson film adaptations, like "The Grifters" or "After Dark, My Sweet". Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
This World, Then the Fireworks

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This World, Then the Fireworks

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Movie Info

Synopsis In this film adaptation of a book by novelist Jim Thompson, Marty (Billy Zane) and Carol Lakewood (Gina Gershon) are twins bound together by the horrors they endured as kids. When crooked police officers come after Marty, he is forced to go on the run, leaving his spouse and career behind and hiding out with Carol, who has turned to prostitution. Soon Marty and his sister begin to pull cons together while reigniting the strange, erotic relationship they indulged in as children.
Director
Michael Oblowitz
Producer
Brad Wyman, Chris Hanley, Larry Gross
Screenwriter
Jim Thompson, Larry Gross
Distributor
Orion Pictures
Production Co
JVC Entertainment, Largo Entertainment
Rating
R
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 11, 1997, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 16, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA)
$19.9K
Runtime
1h 40m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby Digital
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