(Artisan video, 1999, rated 18A)
Of course, Fonda’s most famous movie was Easy Rider (1969) and his other major acting success was in 1997 Ulee’s Gold. The Limey was another intriguing Fonda character study released in 1999, smartly directed by Steven Soderbergh. Fonda plays a self-absorbed, sleazy record producer mixed up in the drug trade who is connected with the death of a young English woman who stumbles on his secret and threatens to go to the police. As a result, her persistent, lower-class criminal-father expertly and humorously played by a truly nasty Terence Stamp comes seeking information and, potentially, revenge.
The film is about the latter’s quest, but contains strong supporting actor performances (by Fonda, Luis Guzman, and Barry Newman) that are interesting character studies unto themselves. In Fonda’s well-rounded role, for instance, the viewer also sees his vanity, his superficial schmoozing manner, his nervousness, and cowardly fears.
Soderbergh also makes clever use of actual old film footage involving Stamp to flesh out the Limey’s history and narrative. He deftly plays with ‘film consciousness’, skilfully intertwining the past and present as well as fantasy and reality for the main plot, keeping viewers on their toes. The film’s style includes the use of old pop songs like The Who’s “The Seeker” and Steppenwolf’s “Magic Carpet Ride’ (the latter slyly referencing Fonda’s use of “Born to Be Wild” three decades before).
All in all, a good Fonda, Stamp, Guzman, and Soderbergh. Recommended easily for their fans.