Like so many other great directors, Jonathan Demme (world famous for his superior thriller "Silence of the Lambs" but originally started as an exploitation filmmaker) is a huge fan of the almighty master of suspense Alfred Hitchcock and made the ultimate homage in the shape of a full-length tribute thriller. "Last Embrace" is chock-full of references, obvious ones as well as subtle ones, towards Hitchock's repertoire but also stands on itself as a convoluted and intensely paranoid conspiracy thriller. The screenplay is often quite flawed and none of the main characters are identifiable and/or likable, but the basic plot is definitely compelling and the film contains a few impressively staged moments of suspense. CIA agent Harry Hannan spent a few months in a mental institution because he tragically lost his wife in a work related incident. When he returns to New York with the intention to carry on with his life, he immediately suspects that he's targeted for assassination. Harry's former employers seemingly want to get rid of him, but there's also a mysterious Hebraic organization after him for some unknown reason. Ellie, a cute laboratory assistant who occupied Harry apartment while he was away, offers her help. The primary plot involving the Jewish murders is terrific, but sadly unfolds slow and often tediously. Just when the all the pieces of the puzzle begin to fit into their place, Demme sadly too soon reveals an essential aspect of the denouement. The sub plot with Harry's agency stalking him is rather inferior, with a meaningless cameo appearance by Christopher Walken and a couple of over-the-top ludicrous sequences with an incompetent Charles Napier clumsily following Harry around in the cemetery and a bell tower. Roy Scheider's performance as Harry Hannan is admirably bitter and integer, but his character is repellent and I'm pretty sure I would also want to kill him. Spotting the Hitchcock references is the most fun part of "Last Embrace", whether it's in the plot elements, the genius camera-work of Demme's regular cinematographer Tak Fujimoto or the impeccable soundtrack by Miklós Rózsa. The grand finale at Niagara Falls is excellent as well.
Review of Last Embrace
