The Ref

The Ref (1994), directed by Ted Demme

The plot, in two words: Criminal takes hostages on Christmas Eve: they prove to be more trouble than they're worth. Denis Leary is the crook, and Kevin Spacey and Judy Davis the principal hostages. The plot is really corny and the ending kinda stinks, but there are performances in this film! Denis Leary is his usual caustic self. Ted Demme and the screenwriters wisely give him leeway to do his usual riffing. I really don't know if he can act (I've never seen him in anything other than a "Denis Leary" persona), but he sure can play this role well.

The treat of this movie is the verbal sparring between Spacey and Davis (with occasional interjections from Christine Baranski and my beloved Glynis Johns). Their arguments are frighteningly real, far from standard cliche husband-and-wife bickering. This is a couple that hates each other. Each lashes out at each other, and each occasionally reveals the deep wounds that have been made over the years. Hopefully some canny director will reunite Spacey and Davis, two of the finest actors we have today. Can you imagine these two in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. I would be almost too frightened to see it.

I am surprised that this film was ever made. Who could have convinced a major studio like Disney to bankroll a movie about the arguments of a self-hating couple? In any case, a very good film, if one ignores the plot. Definitely a film to watch for the performances' sake.