Dark Blood (1993)

Here's a curio if I ever found one...River Phoenix's unfinished final film, Dark Blood (1993). I have to say that the idea of Judy Davis sharing rather sexually charged scenes fascinated me. Jonathan Pryce as the choice of a hero is rather interesting considering he's more of a Bond villain, sorcerer, ruthless megalomaniac, or Machiavellian sort. The gist of the plot consists of David and Pryce as a married couple enduring a rather bumpy road while on vacation in the desert checking out Native American villages, encountering a rather eccentric oddball played by Phoenix. Director Gluizer decided to finish the film through excerpts and narration, trying to bridge the missing scenes never completed due to Phoenix tragic death (I still think this is a sad, disappointing loss; such a young man who had a Johnny Depp type of career that, no doubt to me, could be just as big today. He was among that pack of great talent, his generation along with Downey, Jr). I have to say I was compelled by the material that exists while the director's comments about fucking America and how we have ruined everything was a bit overbearing preaching from the pulpit; it's his film, though, so it is something I could tolerate due to what exists). I guess I hadn't really thought about Phoenix much in a while because he looks so young and skinny here. It is just a reminder that he was still a pup who had so much left in him that we'll never be able to appreciate and see flourish. Talent lost. 'Tis a shame.