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Romeo Is Bleeding

From Alfawiki
Romeo Is Bleeding
Company typeFilm
IndustryFilm industry
Founded1993
FounderPeter Medak (director), Hilary Henkin (screenplay and producer)
ProductsNeo-noir crime thriller film

Romeo Is Bleeding is a 1993 neo-noir crime thriller directed by Peter Medak, with a screenplay and production by Hilary Henkin. The film stars Gary Oldman, Lena Olin, Annabella Sciorra, Juliette Lewis, and Roy Scheider. Its storyline follows a corrupt NYPD detective (Oldman) who becomes embroiled in a dangerous cat-and-mouse dynamic with a mob assassin (Olin), developing a complicated relationship along the way. The movie’s title is inspired by a song from Tom Waits.

Released in the United States through Gramercy Pictures, Romeo Is Bleeding did not meet financial expectations, earning $7 million against a $10 million production budget, though it received some commendation for its acting performances.

Plot

Jack Grimaldi is an NYPD homicide detective who lives extravagantly on bribes from Mafia leader Don Falcone. His assignment to track down Nick Gazarra, a mobster turned informant, leads to complications when Gazarra is killed by assassin Mona Demarkov. To safeguard Falcone’s interests, Jack is ordered to eliminate Mona but ends up escorting her during her transfer to federal custody. Mona seduces Jack and attempts to murder him but is ultimately captured.

As punishment for his failures, Falcone orders Jack’s toe to be amputated. To shield his wife Natalie and mistress Sheri from danger, Jack sends them away and terminates his affair. Mona proposes paying Jack to stage her death but betrays him, triggering violent clashes that cause Sheri’s death and lead to Jack’s capture. Under duress, Jack buries Falcone alive but is later double-crossed by Mona, who arranges a plea deal implicating him in several murders.

During a courthouse confrontation, Jack kills Mona and tries to commit suicide with an empty gun. Instead of incarceration, he receives an official commendation and assumes a new identity to begin anew in the western United States. The film concludes with Jack living alone in a desert town, awaiting his wife’s return as planned while reflecting on his lost life through wedding photographs.

Cast

Production

Filming took place on-site throughout prominent New York City locations such as Coney Island, Williamsburg, Bushwick, Manhattan, and Queens.

Jon Bon Jovi composed the track "Always" specifically for the movie; however, he chose not to release it after being dissatisfied with an early screening. He cited disappointment with the final film despite liking the script.

Reception

Critics offered mixed evaluations of the film. Chicago Sun-Times reviewer Roger Ebert admired Oldman’s depiction of a morally corrupt character but criticized the film’s excessive melodrama and stylistic exaggerations, noting that even strong performances could not prevent its downfall. Variety's Todd McCarthy praised the main cast but described the movie as an "ultra-violent neo-noir" featuring implausible plot elements verging on campiness. New York Times critic Janet Maslin complimented Oldman’s "uncanny performance" and Dariusz Wolski's cinematography but felt the film ultimately faltered under its violent stylistic choices.

In contrast, Rolling Stone's Peter Travers called it a "scorcher of a thriller," highlighting Olin’s "knockout performance" and suggesting it deserved wider recognition.

Later assessments remain divided: Dennis Schwartz labeled it "senseless, tasteless and demented postmodern noir," while acknowledging Olin’s menacing role and significant scenes between Oldman and Scheider. Randy Miller of DVD Talk considered it an uneven yet entertaining film worth revisiting. MSN Movies noted that despite generally poor reception, Oldman’s portrayal of corrupt cop Jack Grimaldi continues to be highly regarded.

On review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, Romeo Is Bleeding holds a 27% approval rating based on 41 reviews, averaging 4.7/10.

Box office

The film opened weakly at the box office, grossing $3.3 million domestically in the US and Canada and totaling $7 million worldwide. In the United Kingdom, it premiered on 43 screens, earning £50,438 during its opening weekend, ranking 12th nationally and 8th within London.

Year-end lists

Awards

External links

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