Barb Wire

Watched half an hour of Barb Wire yesterday before I went to work.

Barb Wire is a 1996 movie starring Pamela Anderson.

Frankly I don't understand how this movie avoided earning multiple Oscars.

The plot line simply stated on the movie web page: Post Apocalyptic remake of "Casablanca" set in a strip club.

The story is deep, it is complex, it is full of twists and turns. My understanding is that it is a regular feature in the film study course at the University of Oxford.

The movie is set in 21st century USA during the second civil war. The American Congress rules with fascistic methods and there is only one free city left, Steel Harbor, HQ of the resistance. Barb Wire owns a night club there called Hammerhead and she also functions as a bounty hunter. She is one tough chick.

The acting is superb; subtly nuanced. Facial expressions and mannerisms communicate as much or more than spoken words. Almost every scene can be interpreted on many different levels, which is a hallmark of great cinema.

Of course this is to be expected when you pack a cast with extreme talent like Amir Aboulela, Adriana Alexander, David Andriole, Vanessa Lee Asher, Ron Balicki, Jennifer Banko, and Candace Kita.

And of course Pamela Anderson.

Pam relies on her acting chops to make a bold statement in this movie. Dressed demurely throughout, nevertheless, you cannot take your eyes off of her. Of course with lines like "Don't call me babe" and "No laws, no limits, no turning back" her role almost acts itself. But honestly,without Pam's thoughtful interpretation of the dialogue, the role would fall flat.

I saw only half an hour of this movie and was enthralled. I will set some time aside in the not too distant future to watch the whole thing, start to finish, armed with a notebook, a dictionary and a tasteful glass of fine Merlot.

Feel free to join me.