BUG (William Friedkin). 101 minutes. Opens Friday (May 25). Rating: NNN Rating: NNNNN
Bug is a real change of pace for William Friedkin and Ashley Judd . Adapted by Tracy Letts from his play, Bug basically takes place in a single shabby hotel room, its theatrical origins very evident.
Judd must have seen big-time Oscar-bait in the role. She plays a white-trash divorcee who slings beer in a local roadhouse and nervously awaits her ex-husband’s release from prison. Harry Connick Jr. as her ex jolts the picture every time he shows up.
Judd meets Peter ( Michael Shannon ), whose odd shy and evasive demeanour instantly spells “paranoid schizophrenic” to anyone who’s watched a lot of movies, but spells “dreamboat” to Judd. Guess who’s right?
The film wallows in its characters’ escalating paranoia, and the climax is wildly over the top, though you can see how it might be a stunning piece of live theatre. Oh, and for those who’ve been waiting for this ever since her first film appearances, Judd does her first nude scene. Hey, it worked for Halle Berry.
