User reviews

As the story opens, architect Cliff Murphy (James Brolin) has retreated into his profession after the death of his wife. He joins his co-workers who have gathered at a local bar to signal the sale of his employers' firm to a new set of partners. The celebrants soon miss Cliff's presence and for good reason: he has scampered off with a splendrous young blonde, Jennifer (Isabelle Truchon). Apparently lacking self-denial, the duo soon consummate their newly-hatched relationship within the cramped bounds of Jennifer's automobile. This affair of the loins turns equivocal for Cliff during the passionate pair's follow-up date the next evening when, after their common interest results in a soft porn living room floor encounter, Jennifer disappears and Cliff finds himself to be alone, but for an upstairs and very fresh murder victim. Cliff then pays a visit to a friend and criminal attorney, Sara (Meg Foster) whom he must convince of his innocence. We are then tasked, alongside the beleaguered architect, with recalling any clues that might bring about his freedom. If one would care to bother with analysing the scenario, it will soon become palpable that an ongoing flux of coincidences fancifully moves the paranoia based action. The film is paced to a quick beat, and the largely capable cast generally avoids over emoting, with specially good work from Foster. Brolin, whose hirsute predilections for this production give him the appearance of a latter-day Wolfman, is not obligated to perform beyond his circumscribed aptitude, and his customary combination of perplexity and outrage is appropriate for his character. Talented Dorothee Berryman manages to make something interesting of her role, but June Chadwick cannot seem to figure out hers, and is undone in the attempt. Director Jim Kaufman induces some excellent turns from his cast but his endeavours cannot handle by half the absurdities of the screenplay, by Paul Koval and the film's editor, Paul Ziller. Montreal's suburbs in autumn are served well by a blend of skills from cinematographer Rodney Gibbons and set designer Richard Tasse, but the score by Marty Simon is consistently intrusive. In sum, this is a piece which moves along smartly and provides choice moments from some accomplished performers, but the jarring elements stemming from an overstrained and oft silly narrative ultimately lay it low.

Cliff Murphy (James Brolin) is a lonely widow architect still grieving the death of his wife Anne. On the day the company where he works is sold to Mr. Chambers, a very wealthy man, his co-worker and friend Juliet Powell (Dorithée Berryman) convinces him to join the other colleagues in a celebration in a bar. He reluctantly goes and he meets the gorgeous Caroline (Isabelle Truchon) being harassed by a strong blonde guy. He stays with her and they have a hot intercourse in the back seat of her car. On the next day, Caroline calls him in the office and invites him to go to a restaurant. Then, they go in two cars to her house. After some kisses and hugs, Cliff meets Mr. Chambers back stabbed and dead on the bed in the master bedroom. Cliff goes to Juliet's flat and calls Sara Rudnick (Meg Foster), a lawyer and former friend of Anne, asking her to defend him. She tells him to turn himself in to the police. He is put in jail and in the preliminary audience for the trial, Caroline is another woman. Cliff's world and defense turns upside down and he finds that someone has trapped him. But who?

"Back Stab" is film neo noir with a flawed but attractive unoriginal story that holds the attention of the viewer. There are hot sex, sexy and fatal women, amoral plot, jazz soundtrack, but all of these components of a film noir are wasted, after the second plot point. The screenplay becomes totally absurd and incredible and the conclusion of the story is totally disappointing. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Traição" ("Betrayal")

Note: On 17 October 2016, I saw this film again.