The Linguini Incident

You’d be hard pressed to find a director who wouldn’t jump at the opportunity to have a re-do on one of his or her films.  The controlled chaos of the filmmaking process is such that even the Spielbergs and Lucases of the world have regrets.  And digital tools have made it easier for even indie directors to create their own “Snyder Cut,” even if the film itself wasn’t that well received the first time around.  Hence The Linguini Incident, a quirky early ‘90s rom-com starring David Bowie, gets a home video resurrection courtesy of its original director, Richard Shepard, who secured the rights…and a chance to redeem himself for the sins of the past.

 

Lucy (Rosanna Arquette) is a waitress with a Houdini fixation.  Vivian (Eszter Balint) is her moral and sometimes financial support.  While Monte (Bowie) is the new bartender in desperate need of a green card.  Since all of them are in need of a cash infusion, they hatch a plan to rob their trendy restaurant run by a pair of gambling obsessed partners (Buck Henry and Andre Gregory).  But the stick-up only creates more buzz around the eatery…and digs a deeper hole for all involved.

 

Despite the title, there’s no actual linguini involved (the director chose random words from a hat), but there is plenty of oddball indie humor and look-at-me characterizations.  If anyone can pull it off, it’s Rosanna Arquette, whose squeaky voice and buck teeth cemented her, unlikely enough, as the ‘90s preeminent sexy ingenue.  As a struggling New Yorker hoping to catch her big break as an escape artist, she couldn’t be more perfectly cast.  But it’s Bowie who delivers the real surprising turn as a charming expatriate who chooses to fall in love rather than settle his debts.  

 

Even in the liner notes, Shephard admits his film is no lost classic.  This new version makes a few cuts here and there but doesn’t really fix the flaws that were already baked in.  The Linguini Incident is the part of that intentionally eccentric sub-genre that lives or dies by its wits; and Shephard’s film just feels too intentional to begin with.  It’s better to appreciate it as an outlier in Bowie’s eclectic acting career, the only film in which his onscreen persona was close to his own, a true rarity for the chameleon of rock and roll.

 

Released by MVD on Blu-ray, the main feature – struck from a brand new 4K transfer – has the slightly oversaturated look common to the era with a wonderful level of detail.  The original theatrical version is included as well, but only in standard definition.  Extras include two commentaries – one with Shepard solo and another with members of the cast and crew – and a feature length documentary about the making of the film.  Seriously, it’s an hour and 45 minutes!  A photo gallery, liner notes, trailers and reversible artwork wrap things up.

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