Something Wild

After directing one of the greatest concert films of all time, the Talking Heads Stop Making Sense, Jonathan Demme had earned hip street cred. It also didn't hurt that his earlier films, Melvin And Howard and Handle With Care, displayed a lot of quirky charm. His next feature had an abundance of both hipness and quirk, 1986's Something Wild.

A timid banker named Charlie, Jeff Daniels, yearns to have a more rebellious side. And when he crosses paths with a free spirited young lady named Lulu, Melanie Griffith, he gets his wish and goes from mild to wild. The two hit the road and go to Lulu's hometown where Charlie finds out more about his mystery lady. Including the fact that she is married to a dangerous ex con named Ray, Ray Liotta, who will stop at nothing to get Lulu back.

What starts out as a quirky little road trip comedy quickly turns very dark once Liotta enters the picture. The shift in tone totally works in favor of this movie. I think this is Demme's best work and has a smartly written screenplay from E. Max Frye. All three of the leads are terrific, especially Liotta in a creepy, breakout performance. Demme put together another great soundtrack for this as well.

Something Wild lives up to it's title.

It's available on dvd and blu ray.