After Dark, My Sweet (1990)
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82% of critics liked it
(17 reviews) -
54% of users liked it
(1,502 ratings)
Adapted from a novel by pulp writer Jim Thompson, After Dark, My Sweet evokes memories of the film noirs of yore. Jason Patric plays Collie, a short-fused ex-boxer who gets mixed up with alcoholic widow Fay (Rachel Ward) and burned-out former lawman Uncle Bud (Bruce Dern). These two lowlifes involve… More Adapted from a novel by pulp writer Jim Thompson, After Dark, My Sweet evokes memories of the film noirs of yore. Jason Patric plays Collie, a short-fused ex-boxer who gets mixed up with alcoholic widow Fay (Rachel Ward) and burned-out former lawman Uncle Bud (Bruce Dern). These two lowlifes involve Collie in a kidnapping scheme. At first willing to go along with the plan, Collie tires of Fay's drunken mood swings and seeks out new companionship. Doctor George Dickinson proves all too eager to be friends with Collie -- more than friends, in fact. Driven back into Fay's arms, Collie agrees to aid in the kidnapping. But when the victim turns out to be diabetic, things go from bad to worse. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- James Foley
- Genres
- Mystery & Suspense, Drama
- In Theaters
- Jan 1, 1990 Wide
- Studio
- Live Home Video
Critic Reviews
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Vincent Canby, New York Times
A brisk, entertaining contemporary melodrama.
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Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
The film is a hot-wired crime thriller that captures [Jim] Thompson's flair for hard action, malicious wit and fevered eroticism.
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Joe Brown, Washington Post
Foley has brought the novel subtly up to date, and does a good job of maintaining Thompson's artful ambiguity.
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Hal Hinson, Washington Post
If anything, though, Foley makes Thompson's killing universe too inviting, too sunny and comfortable. He's missed the essence of Thompson, but all in all, there are worse ways of failing.
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Dan Callahan, Reverse Shot
Patric plays one of those sweet and totally limited ex-boxers that only seem to exist in the movies and in pulp novels.
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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Jason Patric
as Kevin 'kid' Collins
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Rachel Ward
as Fay Anderson
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Bruce Dern
as Uncle Bud
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George Dickerson
as Doc Goldman
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James Anthony Cotton
as Charlie
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Corey Carrier
as Jack
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James E. Bowen Jr.
as Truck Driver
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Burke Byrnes
as Cop
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Rocky Giordani
as Bert
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Michael G. Hagerty
as Truck Driver
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Vincent Joseph Mazzella Jr.
as Flashback Fighter
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Jeanie Moore
as Nanny
- Thomas Wagner
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Napoleon Walls
as Boxing Referee
- Mike Hagerty
- Tom Wagner
