It begins with a classic noir set-up: ex-con Corky falls in lust with tough dame Violet, and is lured into a double-cross against Violetâs beau Caesar, a money launderer for the mob. The twist, if it is one, is that our leads are both women; Corky is played by Gina Gershon, and Violet by the husky-voiced Jennifer Tilly.
When Caesar (Joe Pantoliano) comes into possession of $2m that needs to be returned to the
capo post haste, Corky and Violet plot to swipe the bag. Their plan involves putting Caesar on the hook for the missing money, thinking heâll be dumb enough not to sense they screwed him and smart enough to go on the run and out of their lives. They only get the first part right. Instead of skipping town, Caesar digs in deeper, and the plot unfolds as a cunning pressure-cooker thriller, with all parties scheming to survive the night until the mob arrives in force to sort matters out at the barrel of a gun.