// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did "Trouble Bound" say to its friend? "You're tied to trouble.

Trouble Bound
Film poster
Directed by	Jeffrey Reiner
Written by	Darrell Fetty Francis Delia
Starring	Patricia Arquette Billy Bob Thornton Michael Madsen Sal Jenco
Distributed by	ITC Entertainment
Release date	1993 (1993)
Countries	United States, United Kingdom
Language	English

Trouble Bound is a 1993 crime comedy-drama film directed by Jeffrey Reiner and written by Darrell Fetty and Francis Delia. It stars Michael Madsen as recently released prisoner Harry Talbot and Patricia Arquette as Kit Califano, the daughter of a mob boss who is seeking revenge for her father's murder. After Harry unknowingly drives away with a corpse hidden in the trunk of his car, he and Kit become the targets of separate groups of criminals.

Plot

Henry Talbot is released from prison after serving more than five years for a crime connected to his former associates. During a poker game with them, he wins $5,000 and a Lincoln Continental and sets of for Nevada, intending to use the money to start a new life. Unknown to Harry, his associates have hidden the body of a man named Gordo in the car's trunk. They later realize that Gordo possessed a key needed to recover money he had stolen and begin pursuing Harry to retrieve the body.

Meanwhile, Kit Califano, the granddaughter of crime boss Gradma Martucci, is determined to kill former Mafia hitman Johnny Santino, whom she blames for the murder of her father. Her grandmother is attempting to form a lucrative alliance with Santino and orders Kit's cousin Danny to keep her away from him. Kit escapes and encounters Harry at a bar, persuading him to give her a ride to Nevada. She later convinces Harry to enter a high-stakes poker game involving Santino, hoping to use Harry to get close enough to kill him.

Harry wins heavily at the game, but Kit attacks Santino, triggering a shootout. Harry and Kit escape together, although Harry is furious at having been drawn into her vendetta. When a flat tire forces Harry to open the Lincoln's trunk, he discovers Gordo's corpse. Kit admits that she had already seen the body but assumed Harry knew it was there. The pair dump the corpse, but Harry's former associates eventually catch up with them and reveal that they need the key connected to Gordo's stolen money. A confrontation between the criminals and Santino's men erupts into another shootout, allowing Harry and Kit to escape.

As they continue on the run, Harry learns that Santino murdered Kit's father and that her efforts to kill him have placed both of them in danger. Despite their constant arguments, Harry and Kit become romantically involved. Danny eventually captures Kit and returns her to Grandma Martucci, who is trying to preserve her alliance with Santino. Santino demands Kit's death as compensation for the men killed during her attacks, while her grandmother instead attempts to send her away.

Harry, who has meanwhile discovered that Gordo's key provides access to the stolen money, chooses to return for Kit. He reaches the Martucci estate and rescues her, and the two flee together. Santino and his remaining men intercept them, leading to a final confrontation in which Santino is killed. Kit reflects that she has spent years trying to avenge her father, only for Santino to die without her firing the fatal shot.

With their pursuers dead and Harry now possessing enough money to leave, he and Kit drive away together. When Kit suggests that they travel to Monte Carlo to visit a friend who owns a casino, Harry responds by repeatedly telling her to be quiet.

Cast

The principal cast includes:

• Michael Madsen as Harry Talbot
• Patricia Arquette as Kit Califano
• Sal Jenco as Danny
• Billy Bob Thornton as Coldface
• Florence Stanley as Grandma Martucci
• Seymour Cassel as Santino
• Paul Ben-Victor as Zand

Production

Trouble Bound was written by Darrell Fetty and Francis Delia and directed by Jeffrey Reiner. Tom Kuhn and Fred Weintraub produced the film, with W. M. Christopher Gorog serving as executive producer. Janusz Kamiński was the cinematographer, Neil Grieve edited the film, and Richard Sherman handled production design.

Filming took place in Arizona, including locations in Phoenix, Cottonwood and Sedona. The Arizona Film Commission lists ITC Entertainment and Weintraub/Kuhn among the production entities associated with the film.

Release

Trouble Bound was released in the United States on January 9, 1993. In April 1993, Billboard reported that the film was among the first titles planned for ITC Home Video's new domestic label and was scheduled for a home-video release that summer.

Reception

Contemporary reviews were generally negative. Film critic Adrian Martin criticized the film's attempts at hipness, its combination of elements from Wild at Heart and Blood Simple, and its use of Michael Madsen and Patricia Arquette, whom he felt were poorly served by the material. Video Librarian gave the film a low rating, criticizing its mixture of graphic violence, comedy and outlaw romance and arguing that it failed to settle on a consistent tone, although the review acknowledged that the film contained some clever dialogue. On Rotten Tomatoes, 38% of four critics' reviews are positive.

External links

• Trouble Bound at IMDb