This World, Then the Fireworks

R

Released Jul 11, 1997

1h 40m

Crime

Drama

List

38%

8 Reviews

Tomatometer

42%

250+ Ratings

Audience Score

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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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

Audience Member

film-noir hengessa tehty leffa kertoo keskivertoa erikoisempien kaksosten tarinaa. Tarinaa ei ole oleellista alkaa tassa senkummemmin kaymaan lapi. Elokuvan tunnelma on koukuttava johon antaa oman mausteensa musiikki, kertoja aani seka elokuvan varimaailma. Billy Zane tekee mainion roolin ja onkin mielestani aina ollut aliarvostettu nayttelija. Ei han mikaan maailman paras ole, mutta monta hanta paljon huonompaakin nayttelijaa saa paistatella valokeilassa. Naista hyvista puolista huolimatta ei paasta kahta ja puolta tahtea parempaan lopputulokseen vaan loppujen lopuksi tarina jaa jotenkin vaisuksi

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

Full Review

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Michael Oblowitz

Director

Billy Zane

Marty Lakewood

Gina Gershon

Carol Lakewood

Sheryl Lee

Lois Archer

Rue McClanahan

Mom Lakewood

Roberta Hanley

Younger Mom Lakewood

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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

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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: Barr B. Potter
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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