Forever Mine Reviews

They may not make amusing bad movies like they used to, but writer-director Paul Schrader's high-toned howler — which bypassed theatrical release for cable/direct-to-video distribution — treats the subject of l'amour fou with comically extravagant pretension. In 1973, clean-cut college student/cabana boy Alan Ripley (Joseph Fiennes) cracks the books and avoids the drug-dealing aspirations of his co-worker Javier (Vincent Laresca). Then comes the fateful day when Alan sees Ella Brice (Gretchen Mol) emerge from the Florida surf in a white, one-piece swimsuit. Love blinds Alan to the reality of Ella's marriage to corrupt politician Mark Brice (Ray Liotta). Marriage to Mark got Ella out of the steno pool, and she's reluctant to swim back into poverty with Alan, but succumbs to Alan's once-in-a-lifetime passion before returning to Yonkers with her wealthy spouse. The penniless Alan borrows Javier's car, drives north and pesters Ella on her home turf. Unable to dampen Alan's ardor by other means, Mark has him arrested on trumped-up drug charges. When Alan won't relinquish his prison correspondence with Ella, Mark arranges for Alan's escape then has his underlings shoot him and leave him for dead. With his face half blown away, Alan somehow survives and makes it back to Javier's doorstep. Sixteen years and several sloppy plastic surgeries later, Alan has fashioned become drug-lord Manuel Esquema. Ironically, Mark now needs a favor from this Colombian power broker, who agrees to do some money laundering on Mark's behalf. Instead, Alan and Javier conspire to set up Mark for a financial and legal fall. The scarred Alan also reacquaints himself with Ella, but will Mark realize his nemesis's true agenda before Alan skips town with his wife? The supple cinematography and haunting music can't overcome Schrader's directorial eccentricities or Fiennes' comically bad acting (complete with a Juan Valdez accent) in his dual role. Campy hogwash.