Touch **** (1997, Christopher Walken, Bridget Fonda, Skeet Ulrich, Tom Arnold) – Classic Movie Review 1324

Paul Schrader’s 1997 extraordinary black comedy drama film Touch stars Christopher Walken as a conman who sees a new way of making money when he hears of a young former Franciscan monk (Skeet Ulrich), whose touch can apparently heal the sick.

Writer-director Paul Schrader’s 1997 extraordinary drama and black comedy film Touch stars Christopher Walken as former evangelist Bill Hill, a conman tired of trying to make a living selling religious artefacts and mobile homes. He sees a new way of making money when he hears of an innocent lad called Juvenal (Skeet Ulrich), a young former Franciscan monk, whose touch can apparently heal and cure the sick by the laying-on of hands. Stigmata appear from time to time on Juvenal’s flesh.

Walken’s Bill Hill persuades his assistant and friend Lynn Faulkner (Bridget Fonda) to befriend Juvenal, sending her into the Sacred Heart Rehabilitation Centre where Juvenal works, pretending she is an alcoholic. The pair fall in love and Bill Hill becomes Juvenal’s agent. This upsets August Murray (Tom Arnold), the fanatical leader of an ultra-conservative religious group, who is angered by the duo’s love affair and sets out after them with a loaded gun.

This is a really cool movie from Schrader, who is clearly inspired by Elmore Leonard’s bestseller, which he adapts here. It’s a truly bright, sparky, lively if determinedly eccentric piece, with performances to match. All four stars rivet the attention.

The specific aim and purpose behind this wild satire on slick promoters, religious crackpots and chat show hosts are perhaps none too evident. But the film is a great one, often funny and always dynamic and dynamite.

Touch also stars Richard Schiff, Gina Gershon, Lolita Davidovich, Janeane Garofalo and Paul Mazursky.

And L L Cool J (as himself), Conchata Ferrell, John Doe, Maria Celedonio, Anthony Zerbe, Chris Hogan, Breckin Meyer, William Newman, Toole, Richard Fancy, Tamlyn Tomita, Don Novello and Mason Adams also appear.

It was shot in Fullerton, California.

The soundtrack is composed and recorded by Dave Grohl, released on his Roswell Records. It is all instrumental, except for How Do You Do and two songs performed with Louise Post of Veruca Salt.

A brilliant movie, it was pretty much totally neglected at the time, taking only $387,069 at the box office.

The great Elmore Leonard, the author of Get Shorty, Jackie Brown and Out of Sight, died on August 20 2013, aged 87. They were all filmed: Get Shorty, Jackie Brown and Out of Sight. His works proved perfect for the movies.

Ulrich was born Bryan Ray Trout in Lynchburg, Virginia. In cinema, he is best known for his roles as Chris Hooker in The Craft (1996) and Billy Loomis in Scream.

http://derekwinnert.com/scream-classic-film-review-622/

http://derekwinnert.com/the-craft-1996-fairuza-balk-robin-tunney-neve-campbell-rachel-true-classic-movie-review-1323/

http://derekwinnert.com/get-shorty-classic-film-review-368/

http://derekwinnert.com/jackie-brown-classic-film-review-366/

http://derekwinnert.com/out-of-sight-1998-clooney-lopez-classic-film-review-1001/

Check out more film reviews on http://derekwinnert.com