Better Than Natural Born Killers and As Good as Monster!
Freeway is an entertaining exploitation drama in its own league.
Matthew Bright’s indie crime drama Freeway (1996) is equally dark comedy and bleak drama. Bright’s writing is biting in his witty dialogue with his blunt social commentary. The plot is simple, yet effective as Bright’s words are hypnotizing and thoughtful for such a funny comedy on the surface. Bright also holds the audience captive with his engaging direction full of striking close-ups and haunting wide shots. You’d think Freeway was trying to be The Silence of the Lambs with its brutal and sudden violence and unholy crimes against young girls. Bright calls on exploitation imagery of sexual openness and flips it into truly disturbing territory. Matthew Bright directed his best film with Freeway as it is a film I will be thinking about long after seeing it.
I loved Freeway as Reese Witherspoon makes it a constantly funny movie despite the unbearably dark subject matter of pedophilia, abuse, prostitution, murder, rape, addiction, poverty, incarceration, injustice. Witherspoon is a tour de force of vicious energy and charming individualism. She is a fierce lead actress in Freeway as Vanessa Lutz. Reese Witherspoon proves she has always been one of the greatest actresses who ever lived with versatile, brave, and difficult roles like Freeway wherein she must be endearing, entertaining, shocking, and fearsome all in one little bundle of joy. Reese is just too much fun not to enjoy every firebrand role of hers.
Kiefer Sutherland is unreal in his creepiest role as a serial killer named Bob Wolverton. Sutherland plays it cool and friendly until he reveals his inner sleaze. Brooke Shields is excellent as Sutherland’s outraged wife Mimi Wolverton. You just despise her instead of feeling sympathy for her. Brittany Murphy is wonderful in a character actress role as a lesbian addict in prison named Rhonda. She’s sweet and likable, but immediately sympathetic thanks to Murphy’s devastating performance in the middle of Freeway. Likewise, Alanna Ubach is amazing as Mesquita, a hard edge double murderer who befriends Reese. I like her heavy Latina accent and direct style.
Dan Hedaya is amazing as a goodhearted officer named Detective Garnet Wallace, who is just trying to solve brutal serial killings in earnest. Wolfgang Bodison is interesting as he plays a hothead cop called Detective Mike Breer with an unusual method of interrogation. Amanda Plummer is perfectly cast as a pathetic prostitute mother to Reese named Ramona Lutz. Bokeem Woodbine is nice as Reese’s fiance Chopper Wood.
Freeway is a way better version of Oliver Stone’s ridiculous crime thriller Natural Born Killers. Freeway is more funny, gritty, real, and clever than Stone’s over the top Natural Born Killers. Strange considering Freeway is literally just Little Red Riding Hood in a dark and gritty contemporary world. The naive innocent girl is made victim by the brutal big bad wolf who beats her to grandma’s house with terrifying results. Freeway is amusing, riveting, scary, uncomfortable, horrifying, creative, grounded, and brilliant through and through. Freeway has more in common with James Mangold’s Girl, Interrupted and Patty Jenkins’ Monster than Natural Born Killers though.
Danny Elfman’s score is insane with unorthodox folk and world music blended into an alternative rock hybrid all its own in sound. Elfman throws sonic daggers into the cutthroat world of poverty for shocking stabs and clever backdrops. Freeway contains Elfman’s strangest score for any film by far.
In all, Freeway is a must see hidden gem among Reese Witherspoon’s eclectic filmography. Masterful and creative indie film, genuinely funny comedy, unforgettable drama, and darkly disturbing material handled with care. Freeway is more mature than you’re going to be prepared for in all honesty.
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