Boarding Gate DVD Review

Only Asia Argento can make me watch anything she is in. Yes, if you have been reading us here at Killer Film for awhile, you should know about our undying affection (oh hell, just call it a crush) on Asia, but here I felt almost compelled to leave her be, since the generically titled Boarding Gate is a mess. It’s long, dull, and confusing, but it has Asia, so here I am chugging away on a review.

Really, the acting is fine. Most of the film is Asia and Michael Madsen, and they are both fine actors. While Asia is way better in The Last Mistress, and yes, I’ll say it-Mother of Tears she’s compelling here, but only for as much as the script lets her be. She pushes her character a bit beyond what’s written I suspect, but even then, sadly, nudity and all, she can’t save the film. But my love affair with her wanders on throughout this 100 minute, slow moving film.

Olivier Assayas directs what is intended to be an erotic, drug-deal-gone-wrong thriller and with these capable actors on board, he should have sent the script in for another rewrite. Asia plays Sandra, a nympho ex-girlfriend of Michael Madsen’s character, Miles, with deeper intentions than he realizes.  She attempts to handle a little drug deal that spirals out of control. From here, we get double-crosses and sexual encounters that slide down a slippery slope of boredom. You cannot judge a book by its cover, but Magnet wisely sells it with Asia plastered near nude on the DVD cover, which should sway some people to buy or rent just on that alone. They’ll sadly be left with a meddling film unsure of what direction it should go in, but whom am I kidding? Look at that sultry cover!

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