Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.0

Trouble Bound Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf December 25, 2017

In 1993, Michael Madsen was just getting started on an acting career that would find him playing all manner of squinting bad guys, stuck in a cycle of cinematic crime sprees that play to his natural way with brooding intensity. Coming a year after his star-making turn in Quentin Tarantino’s “Reservoir Dogs,” Madsen starts to get comfortable with a loquacious crook routine in “Trouble Bound,” forced to create chemistry with co-star Patricia Arquette for a road movie that’s largely about their softening interplay. Writers Darrell Fetty and Francis Delia go the southwest noir route with the picture, creating a chase between bad guys and troubled people, but they only come up with half-baked ideas, creating a film that spends half its run time trying to be dangerous, and the other half fighting to be funny and flirty.

After winning a car from a mob goon (Billy Bob Thornton) in a poker game, ex-con Harry (Michael Madsen) is eager to hit the road and get out of town, dreaming of an easier life, only he doesn’t know there’s a dead body in the trunk. Dropping into view is Kit (Patricia Arquette), the daughter of a mafia boss who’s looking to get revenge on the killer who murdered her father, going against family interests. Looking for a ride, Kit pushes herself on Harry, who isn’t comfortable with a passenger as he drives across Arizona, but soon grows to like Kit and her impetuous ways. On their trail is plenty of trouble, including underworld enforcer Zand (Paul Ben-Victor), who struggles to catch up with the couple.

While there’s a plot to sort through, “Trouble Bound” is largely dependent on chemistry between the leads, with Kit and Harry experiencing an opposites attract arc that finds the pair initially uneasy with each other, watching Kit use her natural allure to knock down Harry’s practiced sense of caution. They share a mutual goal of escape, and “Trouble Bound” remains with the pair for most of the movie, which isn’t as enticing as it sounds, finding Madsen and Arquette struggling to generate enough heat to power the film (Arquette would have better luck in “True Romance,” playing essentially the same character). Banter is strained and enthusiasm is iffy, with Madsen checked out for the most part, leaving the effort lacking in dynamic interplay.

Trouble Bound Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation endeavors to refresh a largely forgotten crime story from the 1990s, and the upgrade factor from the 2003 DVD is adequate for fans of the picture, but it remains very dark. Listed as a "Brand new 2016 HD Master," the visual experience does what it can to make "Trouble Bound" look presentable, offering a reasonable level of detail to help survey faces and places, including rural Arizona locations, which offer deep distances and natural beauty. Sweaty close-ups also provide textures. Colors are acceptable, best when exploring loud costumes and greenery, and skintones look accurate. Delineation isn't ruinous, but blacks threaten solidification during a few sequences, and the image seems slightly brightened at times. Reel changes are rough, resulting in jumpy frames, scratches, and speckle storms.

Trouble Bound Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix isn't powerful, but it handles the essentials of "Trouble Bound" to satisfaction. Dialogue exchanges aren't precise, but emotionality is open for inspection, and performances choices are easy to follow. Scoring is secure, but soundtrack cuts offer a larger presence, contributing adequate instrumentation. Atmospherics are fine during club encounters and outdoor adventures. A few stretches of popping are encountered.

Trouble Bound Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Interview (20:06, HD) with screenwriter Francis Delia is interesting for perhaps the wrong reasons. Delia wasn't included in the making of "Trouble Bound," with his perspective contained to the creation of the screenplay, which he eventually sold off for a paycheck after trying to secure his directorial debut. He's not fond of the finished product, dismissing the picture while trying to remain respectful to those who couldn't find his intended tone, and he's careful to note "Trouble Bound" was written before Quentin Tarantino became red hot. Delia has little to offer concerning the nuts and bolts of production, but his take on the film's botched execution is enlightening.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:37, HD) is included.

Trouble Bound Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Trouble Bound" isn't entirely sure if it wants to be crusty or goofy, with comedic relief introduced with the mafia enforcers on the couple's trail. Laughs aren't there, and behavioral extremes tend to monkey with the picture's tone, which never settles to satisfaction. "Trouble Bound" has an interesting set-up, but payoff is difficult to come by, as the feature isn't motivated to do much besides celebrate two anemic lead performances.