‎Bound (1996) directed by Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski • Reviews, film + cast • Letterboxd

Bound

1996 Directed by Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski

In their world, you can't buy freedom, but you can steal it.

Corky, a tough female ex con and her lover Violet concoct a scheme to steal millions of stashed mob money and pin the blame on Violet's crooked boyfriend Caesar.

Jennifer Tilly Gina Gershon Joe Pantoliano John P. Ryan Christopher Meloni Richard C. Sarafian Mary Mara Susie Bright Margaret Smith Barry Kivel Peter Spellos Ivan Kane Kevin Michael Richardson Gene Borkan

109 mins More details at IMDb TMDb Report this film

Popular reviews

Review by brat pitt ★★★★ 1

"When executives at some studios read the script, they told the Wachowskis that if they changed the character of Corky to that of a man, they would be interested. The siblings declined, saying 'that movie's been made a million times, so we're really not interested in it.'"

HELL YEAH HELL YEAH FUCKIN RIGHT HELL YEAH 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Review by Sally Jane Black 5

I should give Sense8 another chance someday when I have the energy to watch TV again.

There is a very clear precision to the way the Wachowskis write their films. Plot is important but not always coherent, as emotional payoffs matter more than anything else. Character is key but it doesn't have to be complex, deep, nuanced; it just has to be relatable on some level, some basic understanding. Theme is strong, but direct, blatant. Setting is a rich flavoring layered in there, so you know it's Chicago even when it isn't.

And style is above all. Not simply style, but loud style. Over-the-top. Iconic, or trying to be, in everything. The sort of imagery and dialogue and costuming and…
Review by Arielrocks5 ★★★★½ 14

(Part 8 of "Arielrocks5’s List of films to do for Todd Gaines’ Challenge! (George Lucas Special Edition Gen X Director’s Cut)"

Challenge: A 90's neo-noir")

I love The Wachowski Sisters. I'm not sure if I've yet to fully show that off to all of you, but my love for their craft is beyond anything I could put into words.

From "Speed Racer", to "The Matrix" trilogy, to even their written work on "V For Vendetta", and I'll be the first to say I flat out unironically loved "Jupiter Ascending".

There's just something about the way they craft their films that always leaves me fully engaged from beginning to end. Their eyes for action and spectacle is something most directors lack…
Review by Joe ★★★★★ 6

"Everybody knows your kind can't be trusted."

Playing a different game than it seems to be at first, setting up seasoned noir enthusiasts for yet another riff on The Postman Always Rings Twice before revealing at the last possible moment that the postman doesn't actually know shit. People say plot doesn't matter but it's hard to maintain such attitudes after seeing this, so surgically precise as it unfolds but with room for new veins of emotional nuance even in such well-explored genre territory above and beyond those provided by the lesbian upgrade. I have no idea why I never saw this before now.
Review by Hollie Horror ★★★★★ 2

Caesar: "What did she do to you?"
Violet: "Everything you couldn't."
Review by matthew ★★★★ 18

As often as I nod my head vigorously at his thoughts, I'm repelled by some of the oddities of his critiques. Case in point, Mike D'Angelo's 69/100 review for Bound makes two observations: one extremely helpful, the other not so helpful.

Let's engage with the unproductive aspect of his review right out of the gate: he claims that even with the Wachowskis' transitions, the film still feels like a "hetero male's lesbian fantasy" as opposed to whatever it is depicted on screen. I'm not sure what Mike meant with this bit. As he's a straight white male, does he have access enough to lesbian/queer spaces to gauge their authenticity? His strenuous declaration ("dammit, that is what it feels like" his…

Recent reviews

Review by Ciara Pitts ★★★★★

The depth of Bound has absolutely no bounds, as it only grows and expands with each viewing. Its themes of love, courage, trust, escape, seduction, self-awareness and finding refuge in someone else are expressed so flawlessly. Jennifer Tilly’s Violet is not only iconic, but also a "fuck you" to anyone who’s ever made femme dykes feel invisible. This film has given me so much comfort over the years and I’m proud to call it one of my all-time favorites.
Review by asexualizing ★★★★

Can't believe I've been searching for this very specific thing and everybody told me I will never find it but it existed right under my nose with Bound and now I get to exhale. Dykes, heists.
Review by Clare Mulligan ★★★½

Ocean's 2
Review by Dan ★★★★½

2018 Film School Drop Out Weekly Challenge

Week 43 - Movement - New Queer Cinema (1990s - Current)
Progress - 52/52

I forgot how much I love Joe Pantoliano - he's just the right amount of crazy in this one and his performance is very impressive. Jennifer Tilly is really good, and ultimately a perfect casting choice - that soft-spoken voice works really well for deception. A very fun and interesting crime drama that's up there with Ocean's Eleven type fun. Pretty amazing that this was the Wachowski's first film to be honest, because it's very competently done and seems like something a seasoned veteran would put together.
Review by charlil ★★★★

lowkey underrated and hot
Review by mikemak ★★★★½ 1

How the hell did I miss this movie?

The Wachowskis made their Blood Simple and they *nailed* it. One of the great neo-noirs of the '90s, a twisty Hitchcockian thriller stripped down to one locale and committed to ratcheting the stakes at every turn.

It's a crime that Joe Pantoliano wasn't nominated.
Review by Kamal S ★★★★½

The Wachowskis gave us all the signals back then.
I never thought I'll enjoy it this much.
Review by Taylor ★★★½

GO! LESBIANS!
Review by Garrett ★★★★

This movie is amazing. A heist movie where everything goes wrong. Shot and edited in a way to pinpoint all the little details. The Wachowski style infused in the thriller noir genre is marvelous.

prime video