Bound, directed by Lana and Lilly Wachowski, is a movie I found while scrolling through Letterboxd one night. Starring both Gina Gershon and Jennifer Tilly, I knew that I was in for a treat. This movie knows how to get going, since in the first fourteen minutes, there is already a hook-up scene. 

Bound follows the story of Corky (played by Gershon), an ex-convict doing renovations on an apartment next door to Violet (played by Tilly). Sparks fly between the two of them, but things quickly take a turn for the worse. Violet’s boyfriend, Caesar (played by Joe Pantoliano), is a violent gangster who has just received 2 million dollars. Corky and Violet fall into an affair and steal the money from Caesar. Things get out of hand quickly—lots of gunshots and blood. Honestly, I haven’t seen a good Mafia movie in a while. I love how the movie pokes fun at traditional mobsters through exaggerated Italian accents and jokes.

Additionally, I think that Bound was way ahead of its time. Having a lesbian lead in 1996 was almost unheard of. Even though But I’m A Cheerleader came out three years later, Bound was still a shocking revelation. Bound adeptly maintains a gripping atmosphere. The cinematography and soundtrack kept me tense throughout the whole thing. I found myself biting my nails subconsciously. I couldn’t help but want to see Corky and Violet succeed in their money heist.

Delving deeper, I love how this movie had so many genres in one. Not only is it a gangster movie, but it is also a romance and a comedy. I think that's why this movie felt so new to me– I’d never seen anything like it. However, I do have a few critiques. Although the film was very well made, I found myself a bit bored at times. Furthermore, I wish that the audience got a bit more action between Corky and Violet at the beginning of the movie. Violet feels stuck in her relationship with Caesar since she’s a closeted lesbian, and I wish that the audience got to see a bit more of her inner turmoil about her sexuality. To me, it felt as though Violet and Corky rushed into their relationship. The movie dwelled a bit too long on the whole money-stealing thing. Maybe I just wanted to see more lesbian interactions on screen; who knows? Nevertheless, this was a fantastic film. The acting was incredible, and the directors sure knew how to make an audience member tense. I would recommend this movie if you’re looking for some decent drama and representation.