Alex Sternbergen (Jane Fonda) is a drunken lush and a failed actress pass her prime. After a night of blackout drinking, she wakes up next to notorious photographer Bobby Korshack stabbed to death. She calls her non-romantic husband hairdresser Joaquin Manero (Raul Julia) who tells her to contact the cops. Instead, she tries to clean up and make a run for it. She gets into trouble at the airport and picks up a ride with the slightly racist Turner Kendall (Jeff Bridges).
Director Sidney Lumet is channeling a bit of his inner Hitchcock. He's using some bright colors and light jazzy music. It needs some darker music with more intensity. It's a tougher hang as Alex makes for an unsympathetic protagonist. It does have a few great lines like the cop who demeans Joaquin as a fag. He comes back with "How bad do you wanna know?" There are moments of intrigue but I could never truly care for Alex. It's not Jane Fonda's fault. It's really the character.
Director Sidney Lumet is channeling a bit of his inner Hitchcock. He's using some bright colors and light jazzy music. It needs some darker music with more intensity. It's a tougher hang as Alex makes for an unsympathetic protagonist. It does have a few great lines like the cop who demeans Joaquin as a fag. He comes back with "How bad do you wanna know?" There are moments of intrigue but I could never truly care for Alex. It's not Jane Fonda's fault. It's really the character.