"JACKPOT (PART 1)" Half A Billion May 7, 2000

by
Gordon Hom

In Part One of this season finale, everything but the kitchen sink is thrown in. The pyrotechnics start in the teaser, with a nice use of split screen reminescent of 1970s TV series like MANNIX or the original THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR (1968). Split screen show simultaneous events as Nash tries to prevent the assassination of the Chief. Throughout this season, the cinematography for NASH BRIDGES has always been kick-ass (thanks to Director of Photography Robert Dalva). It's really noticeable in "Jackpot." They're using all sorts of cranes and flying cameras - the very opening shot shows the 'Cuda rotating 360 degrees. Some of these shots seem impossible, as if the camera were mounted on a bird.

NASH BRIDGES tries for retro, but it is modern. In the old days, a million dollars was a lot. But in these days of start-ups and IPO's, that's a drop in the bucket. So the money-laundering operation in "Jackpot" moves a lot of cash, like half a billion dollars worth (seemingly in one dollar bills) - that's 500 million, folks.

Street characters from past episodes are brought back: slimy Tony B, a wingless Angel, Tattoo Man, and most surprisingly, Theresa Russell. This is vintage wacky Nash World. Tony B's fetish for child folk tale characters (Little Bo Peep, Little Red Riding Hood) is really funny, Angel is poignant, and the Bad Girl is really nasty. Theresa Russell has played really nasty bitches in the movies (remember her in WILD THINGS?). Russell has always played morally ambiguous complex roles (BLACK WIDOW, WHORE). This might be the ultimate Bad Girl, but let's see how she turns out in Part 2 of "Jackpot." Is she still undercover and pretending to go bad? And actor Tzi Ma, who plays the head honcho of the money-laundering operation seems hell bent on playing the definitive Asian Bad Guy (Ma was recently a Bad Guy on the soon to be cancelled MARTIAL LAW), taking the crown away from the older James Hong. Onward to the 100th episode...

For more, see synopsis for Episode 99

Copyright © 1996-2022 Gordon Hom. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy