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29 Palms

2003, Movie, R, 93 mins

29 Palms: Review

The flood of sarcastic, neo-noir crime pictures that flooded the direct-to-video marketplace in PULP FICTION's (1994) wake shows no sign of abating, but this violent shaggy dog story packs enough cynical bite to warrant attention on its own merits. Back-stabbing wheeler-dealer The Judge (Michael Lerner) divides his time between informing on an undercover FBI agent nicknamed "The Drifter" (Jeremy Davies) and defrauding his own partner, casino-owner The Chief (Russell Means). He neglects to tell that Las Vegas big-wigs have outbid the Chief for local rights to expand the casino business in California, but convinces him that it was actually The Drifter who conspired to shut them out of the deal. The Chief's men men torture and kill the Drifter's girlfriend, and The Chief hires a hitman (Chris O'Donnell) to eliminate the Drifter. Unfortunately for the hitman, a security guard (Jon Polito) at the Chief's casino spots him checking his payment on the surveillance camera and robs him. Unfortunately for the security guard, the hitman shoots him during the robbery; he manages to drive away, but passes out in the town of 29 Palms. A cop (Michael Rapaport) steals the guard’s black satchel and stashes it at a bus station where, in an unexpected twist, the Drifter intercepts the bag. When the hitman traces the guard to a hospital, the wily guard convinces him he's in "grave" condition and escapes. Meanwhile, the Drifter hooks up with a two-timing waitress (Rachael Leigh Cook) while the hitman tangles with the cop. The Judge continues to mislead the Chief, and none of characters can manage to hold onto the bag of money for long; ultimately, a pursuit in a stolen charter bus will determine whether the Drifter can elude the Chief’s misplaced rage. Screenwriter Tino Lucente doesn't have much use for credibility, but his dizzying game of high-stakes hot potato is engaging enough that you can't help but want to know what twist he has in store next. And though director Leonardo Ricagni can't keep the tension going past the film's halfway point, the actors dive into their rogues' gallery of characters con gusto. --Robert Pardi