Backflash (2002) could have been a decent little movie, but it tries too hard to be unique and original. By the time the loop-sided ending comes around, it's such a mess that it isn't even clever or worthy. Jennifer Esposito is ridiculous as an ex-con "tough broad". She doesn't even look like she could harm a flea.Robert Patrick is pretty much boring as a video store owner who gets stuck into trouble when picking up hitchhiker Jennifer Esposito. The film has a nice desert setting where it is desolate. The acting is made up of TV character actors who aren't that good or strong. Colm Meaney (Star Trek: The Next Generation) does his best to imitate a hard as nails gangster, with weak results.

Gritty business. Very entertaining. Low Budget. No flashy stuff. Sexy leading lady, good character actors. Parched-out desert locales. Cryptic but effective script with plenty of good twists.This is the kind of movie John Payne made when he switched from playing handsome singing A-leads to laconic tough guys back in the 1950s. Kansas City Confidential, for example. Later on Lance Hendricksen did a lot of good stuff like this. Maybe Robert Patrick is the new LH.What more could you ask for?

For a low-budget movie, BACKFLASH looks pretty good. The cinematography is crisp and bright, and while some scenes look a little sparse at times, it never looks really cheap. The problem instead is with the screenplay. It plays like a first draft - scenes go by v-e-r-y slowly, when the story should play out quicker and tighter. There's no spark, and that includes the various twists and turns - you'll most likely have seen most of them before, so they aren't a surprise. The movie tries to jerk us around more near the end, but the twists in this part aren't believable and/or just lead to plot holes. And while Robert Patrick isn't a bad actor, he's wrong for a role that more belongs to someone who can convincingly play a little dim and not totally sure of things. And sadly, Michael J. Pollard is wasted in a role that just gives him two minutes of screen time at most.

I've nominated this as my favourite movie in the IMDb survey. It is funny, quirky, love the music, love the story, there are some terrific lines, great cast line-up and above all my all time favourite actor Robert Patrick (RP) stars.Why did I choose this as the best movie? Apart from sexy RP's involvement I can see myself watching it over and over again. It is a fun, light-hearted movie with an action-packed ending.<<Harley (Jennifer Esposito): Mind if I smoke?Ray (Robert Patrick): Actually I do. It's not good for you. Second hand smoke's not good for you either. Please? (Yes - you go RP!)>>If you've seen other RP movies you'll notice he's given up smoking since.To all RP enthusiasts I recommend this movie as an addition to your ever increasing video libraries.RPcrazy