"TROUBLE IN MIND" (1985) (Neo Noir Video Risk) I borrowed the term "neo noir" from an October 11, 1995, article by Roger Ebert. It aptly describes director Alan Rudolph's strange, often infectious film, showing signs of age in the late 1990s. Blending elements of low tech sci-fi and classic temptation pulp fiction, it will provide the audience with a unique experience. Plus, it is enjoyable to see the always cool Kristofferson (Lone Star, Heaven's Gate, Blade) going through the moves that make him memorable.

The Plot: It is not important at all what this movie is about; this is a character driven story. Technically, Kristofferson plays an ex-cop who has been just released from prison and must somehow deal with the outside world without a badge. There are other stories that detract from the character study that is Rudolph's calling card (see the globally favored "Choose Me"). The other stories involve sexual identity (not that of transvestite Divine), organized crime, and impossible relationships.

The Review: To be truthful with you folks this is not a fantastic film. "Choose Me" is better, and Rudolph made films after this one like "The Moderns" and "Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle" I have, yet, to see, which were better received.

"Trouble" suffers a lot from a routine gangster story like the pitfall which almost engulfed the great "Miller's Crossing." Still, there is a lot to like and the film is more satisfying to me than "Brazil."

Rudolph gains a lot of early momentum in "Trouble" by subtly peppering strange science fiction elements throughout. There is a strong military presence in the City and the soldiers appear to be evil and suspect of the general populace. The sets have an unusual fantasy look. The fashions while definitely 80s influenced are skewed Heinleinesque. In addition, there is some kind of revolution brewing.

Into the mix Rudolph folds an eclectic assortment of characters. Wanda, played by the sexy (even here as a butch) Genevieve Bujold. As an aside, Bujold ("Dead Ringers") is just one the coolest actresses, if she is in a film, check it out. In "Trouble," Bujold plays the owner of a cafe/diner which is short on hygiene but long on hospitality. It is strikingly similar, but meaner, to the diner run by Alice in "Alice's Restaurant."

Lori Singer playing a child mother is the object of much affection. Singer does her best Darryl Hannah impression without the benefit of actually being a mermaid. Keith Carradine as Coop. Carradine has a fire in his eyes missing from the rest of the cast. Of course, his character called for hot-blooded, reckless attitude. He seemed the most human of the alien bunch. Divine in rare non-drag role. As Hilly Blue, Divine slides perfectly into the off-kilter story as almost another set piece.

"Trouble" is an experiment with Classic Neo Noir--an attempt to modernize the Hammett-Chandler tradition by bringing in science fiction gimmicks (luckily, the sci-fi in "Trouble" only adds flavor and does not detract). Noir is a term that is hard to define. One day it clicked for me after watching "Double Indemnity" as an adult. Film Noir is all about giving into temptation and the corruption that results. Films of this genre depict man as constantly on the edge, teetering on the brink of evil and, at times, giving in to the allures of the elicit. It is the good man gone bad, but begs the question whether the man was good in the first place. True film noir doesn't end all smiles, but demonstrates the consequences (best modern example is "One False Move").

I thought that Stanley Kubrick's "Eyes Wide Shut" was perfect film noir, and believed the ending to be dripping with wicked foreshadowing of doom.

Take a look at "Trouble in Mind" this weekend, and whatever you do, resist those evil urges.

Jonathan Hickman