Something Wild (1986 film)
| Something Wild | |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Jonathan Demme |
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| Written by | E. Max Frye |
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| Cinematography | Tak Fujimoto |
| Edited by | Craig McKay |
| Distributed by | Orion Pictures |
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Release date
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Running time
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113 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $8.4 million |
Something Wild is a 1986 American action comedy film directed by Jonathan Demme and starring Melanie Griffith, Jeff Daniels and Ray Liotta. It was screened out of competition at the 1987 Cannes Film Festival. This film has some elements of a road movie, and it has acquired a certain cult status.
In New York City, Charlie Driggs (Jeff Daniels) is a seemingly conventional banker whose wife has left him. In a café, a brunette (Melanie Griffith) who calls herself Lulu spots him leaving without paying. After a teasing confrontation, the two leave in a car that, Lulu says, she acquired from a divorce. They embark on a bizarre adventure, including crashing and abandoning the car, stealing from a liquor store and leaving a diner without paying. Believing Charlie to be married, Lulu discloses that her real name is Audrey, and takes him to visit her mother, Peaches. Audrey now adopts a different persona, becoming a demure platinum blonde. Coming to accept Audrey's free-wheeling lifestyle, Charlie realizes he is falling in love with her.
The relationship takes a dark turn when her violent ex-convict husband, Ray Sinclair (Ray Liotta), shows up at a high school reunion; Ray wants her back. Dumping his girlfriend Irene (Margaret Colin), Ray takes Audrey and Charlie on a short-lived crime spree. The trio end up in a motel room where Audrey learns Charlie is no longer happily married and, under duress, reluctantly realizes she has to stay with Ray.
Ray tells Charlie to leave, warning him to keep away, but Charlie secretly tails them when they leave the motel. Charlie devises a plan to extract Audrey from Ray's grasp, and having done so, he takes Audrey to his home. Ray unexpectedly shows up and begins beating up Charlie, but in a scuffle Charlie accidentally stabs Ray, who dies. Audrey is taken away for questioning. Charlie later comes looking for Audrey at her apartment, but she has moved. Near the café where they first met, Audrey (in her third incarnation) appears with a station wagon. She invites Charlie into her car and back into her life.
Something Wild gained positive acclaim from critics. The film currently holds an 88% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 32 reviews, with the consensus reading: "Boasting loads of quirky charm, a pair of likable leads, and confident direction from Jonathan Demme, Something Wild navigates its unpredictable tonal twists with room to spare."
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