Gotham, also known as The Dead Can’t Lie, is a product of 1988 and was first shown as a TV Movie first show on Showtime. Don’t worry though, it’s not an “Eighties” movie in the way her other films where at the time.

If there was one film that would forever make me a Virginia Madsen fan, it would be this one. A firm favourite and one I watch on a semi regular basis. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that whenever I read or hear her name the chances are the image I get in my head of her is one from this film.

We first meet Charles (Colin Bruce) in a bar telling his tale of woe to a bartender. The mood set by jazz saxophones aplenty. He tells the tale of how he’s being stalked by a woman who is following him at night, he tries to hide from her but she knows he’s there and taunts him as he hides in the shadows.

He ends up sleeping on the streets only to be woken by the Police the next day. Charles calls on the help of a Private Eye, Eddie Martel Mallard (Tommy Lee Jones). He’s the Private Eye you think of when you think of the classic film noir Private Eye, a gruff grumpy chancer.

Charles explains his problem to Eddie. It’s his ex wife, Rachel (Virginia) that is stalking him and he wants rid of her from his life. Eddie suggests he divorce her but Charles insists that he can’t. Why? It turns out his wife died 10 years ago in a boating accident…

Eddie is of course sceptical about all of this and an amused look crosses his face as tries to determine how much of a nut job Charles is but once he’s shown the colour of Charles’ money he sees an easy score, “Call me Eddie” he insists as he takes the job.

Eddie feels bad for taking his money, but he needs it and he figures he’s doing Charles a favour one way or another.

A few days later Eddie and Charles are in town and they spot Rachel. Eddie doing his thing crosses the road to speak to her. She denies knowing Charles and thinks the whole thing is a pick up line by Eddie. They end up going for a drink together (somewhere expensive, she insists), much to Charles’ dismay.Eddie and Rachel talk in the bar, well, Rachel talks as Eddie gets flustered around such a beautiful woman. He knows she’s out of his league and she knows she’s out of his league but seems to offer some encouragement to what she likes in a man. She leaves him at the bar to mull over what she’s said.
Eddie returns to his office where Charles catches up to him. Charles wants to know what Rachel wants, when Eddie doesn’t know he offers up that she probably wants some jewels that she thinks she is owed. Jumping on the chance to potentially get hold of some money so that he can impress Rachel goes along with the idea and they come up with a plan to get rid of Rachel by giving her these jewels.

Of course, things don’t quite go according to plan as Eddie schemes his way through the rest of the situation hoping to get a payday, and to get to know Rachel better…
Gotham is a noir film dripped in noir and sprinkled with a touch of noir. Then served with a healthy side of good old fashioned noir. And it’s fantastic for it.

Tommy Lee Jones is brilliant as Eddie, I don’t think he’s even acting, I think he’s just turned up to be him and is generally amused by what he finds. Virginia, is of course peak Virginia in this. Sexy, alluring, mysterious and a little bit dangerous. I feel a bit sorry for Colin Bruce, he plays his part to perfection but he’s not given the meat on the bones of the other two, still a great turn from him.

I obviously recommend this one. You’ll need to take it for what it is, it’s supposed to be that way and it’s brilliantly realised.

Availability:
Not too hard to find on Region 1 DVD, there are some inflated prices for it as it’s not readily available but patience will be your friend here. Seems to pop up on VHS quite a lot as well if that’s your thing. Also seen Laser Disc copies kicking around but that’s something I’ve not really bothered with.

Gallery:

Trailer:

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