This Movie will be considered a Classic
The subject line of this movie is an incredibly difficult one to portray unless the actors have insight into the psyche of the 2 main characters - namely (the crim element lifestyle of Jesse ...... and the straight girl to whom he was soul-fully and desperately attracted, Monica ..... and their interaction - and the dilemma this created for both of them, and the sheer impossibility of a relationship between them ever working - despite the fact that they were POWERLESS against their attraction to each other. It is a massively complex human interaction, situation. The 2 actors chosen for the parts were PERFECT .... and indeed it never fails to amaze me each and every time that i watch it - as to how Richard Gere has the dedication, the psyche and the talent (and where he obviously studied real life characters in this situation) where Gere pulled off playing this character to a T, down to most minute actions and expressions !
Monica was perfect - not over-played nor under-played ..... just perfect as a girl torn. She loved him to her depths (and to her immense surprise).. and was irresistably drawn to him - but had a life time of conditioning working against her staying with him. This whole situation into which she was thrown, necessitated (apart from her training) to be very careful in what she said when she spoke, and whether she spoke up at all - she was walking a tight rope - she astutely realised where her whole future was hinging on what was in her face at this very moment. I cant think of another player who could have pulled off the hugely difficult part she played - with such authenticity - that is, that her demeanour and reactions were EXACTLY true to how a girl in her precise situation and where she was at that time situated in the scheme of her life, would have behaved. She was obviously hand picked to play this gruellingly 'real' life twisting part.
This is one of those 'curve ball' situations that life can throw up at the young and naive - out of control, and fateful for both - completely out of the realms of anything they had planned for their lives.
This movie is a piece of ART which deserves close study, by the unknowing (of that real particular life scenario) ..... which believe me, they (the director, the actors and the support team, the researchers etc.) have got down pat !!
A CLASSIC ..... an 'insightful' TREASURE ...... authentic Time Capsule material.