It's an indelible film image, that of seeing Angelica Huston's tough-gal character in "The Grifters" trembling as she talks of being beaten with a bag of oranges.
A man about to hurt her decides against creating so many bruises, choosing to only grind a burning cigar into the top of her hand.
This is what happens to women in the film "The Grifters," and in Jim Thompson's books in general. The native Oklahoman and master of the pulp fiction genre matched up men of ill fortune with dangerous women. Happy endings were in short supply.
So I wasn't sure which news was more surprising when I heard it: That a film adaptation of Thompson's "The Killer Inside Me" will shoot some scenes in Oklahoma, or that it features Kate Hudson and Jessica Alba.
Are the poster girls for the mediocre romantic comedy attempting to atone for past sins? Will Hudson be beaten to a juicy pulp for "Bride Wars," "Fool's Gold" and "You, Me and Dupree?"
Will Alba find herself on the business end of axe for having made "The Love Guru" and "Good Luck Chuck?"
These red-carpet, tabloid favorites and high-paid beauties are apparently depending on Jim Thompson to change their respective images.
In a film that's done right (and with director Michael Winterbottom of "A Mighty Heart" and "Tristam Shandy..." there is a chance), Hudson and Alba could make us look at them in whole new, gritty light that could open up other roles for their future.
Or they could make us look at yet another film based on a Thompson novel in the way that we recall "The Getaway" with Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger. See the Steve McQueen version instead; better yet, read the book.
For what it's worth, viewing this trailer from "The Grifters" may provide a preview of what's in store for Hudson and Alba, who are scheduled to co-star with Casey Affleck ("Gone Baby Gone") in this new film.
Yes, the cigar makes an appearance in the trailer, so be warned.
