He thought it was passion. It was deceit. He thought it was love. It was murder.
Detective Kyle Bodine falls for Rachel Munro who is trapped in a violent marriage. After she shoots her husband, Kyle relucantly agrees to help hide the body, but his partner is showing an unusual flair for finding clues.
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Character
Grave, classical in form, bleak and plot-driven.
- gravecomic
- classical in formformally daring
- warmbleak
- character-ledplot-driven
- sparerichly built
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“Is Ed Harris the best thing in China Moon?”
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“Does the ending land?”
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“Is China Moon better than its reputation?”
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Reviews on TMDB
Written by TMDB members; each links to the original. Not part of Tastebuds's numbers.
- Wuchakon TMDB · May 20246/10
**_Neo-noir in the heart of Florida with Ed Harris, Madeleine Stowe and Benicio Del Toro_** A good detective in the Tampa Bay area (Harris) trains his greenhorn partner (Del Toro) while starting a relationship with an alluring woman (Stowe). It turns out she’s in an abusive marriage with a pompous banker (Charles Dance). Havoc ensues. “China Moon” (1994) is a crime drama/thriller similar to “Body Heat” from over a dozen years earlier; even the setting is similar. The difference is that “Body Heat” was a hit at the box office while this one failed to acquire an audience and basically went into obscurity. Regardless, it’s a well-done ‘modern’ film noir that’s more conventional than highly stylized, but includes some brooding rainy night sequences. The acting is great, but the forced ending is ridiculous. It wasn’t necessary. Kyle (Harris) finding himself in an ironic role while his rookie pal suddenly discovers how to be a detective was interesting enough. Then it gets eye-rolling. Why Sure! Still, if you like neo-noir and the actors, it’s worth checking out. The movie runs 1 hour, 39 minutes, and was shot in the Greater Tampa Bay area, including Lakeland and Bartow, which are an hou
Read the whole review on TMDB - John Chardon TMDB · Oct 20177/10
The porcelain prince and princess. China Moon is directed by John Bailey and written by Roy Carlson. It stars Ed Harris, Madeleine Stowe, Benicio del Toro, Charles Dance and Patricia Healy. Music is by George Fenton and cinematography by Willy Kurant. To be kind since China Moon is a very good film in its own right, that is for lovers of film noir and its off shoot neo-noir, it's a film where its only crime is not being as great as previous instalments of noirs classic era and neo. Story treads deliciously familiar ground, where Harris' intrepid cop falls deep for Stowe's sultry babe and before he can say " I would do anything for you", he's in it up to his neck. In true noir fashion there's a twisty road to be navigated, nothing is as it at first seems, with hidden agendas, shifty shenanigans and emotional turmoil all playing a hand. The police procedural aspect intrigues greatly, with the devilish kicker of Harris investigating himself, while the intricacies of crime investigation - such as bullet science - is not given short shrift. As a mood piece it scores high, the sweaty Florida settings ripe for Bailey (a cinematographer by trade) to mix a bit of poetic ambiance with misty
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Cast
- Ed HarrisKyle Bodine
- Madeleine StoweRachel Munro
- Charles DanceRupert Munro
- Patricia HealyAdele
- Benicio del ToroLamar Dickey
- Tim PowellFraker
- Pruitt Taylor VinceDaryl Jeeters
- Robb Edward MorrisOfficer Pinola
- Peggy O'NealMiami Desk Clerk
- Sandy MartinGun Saleswoman
Crew
- John BaileyDirector
- Roy CarlsonWriter
- Willy KurantDirector of Photography
- George FentonOriginal Music Composer
- Carol LittletonEditor
- Jill SavittEditor
- Roy CarlsonProducer
- Carol KimProducer
- Barrie M. OsborneProducer
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Similar in taste
Closest on the same fourteen dimensions, from everything scored on Tastebuds Other media included when they land close.
Manhattan Night 201689% alikeBoth grave, classical in form.
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Frankenstein Created Woman 196779% alikeBoth grave, classical in form.
Psycho II 198378% alikeBoth grave, classical in form.
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Game · Both grave, classical in form.
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