Love Field (1992)

Following the Oscar nominated performance in "The Fabulous Baker Boys" (1989), two Golden Globe nominated turns in "The Russia House" (1990) and "Frankie and Johnny" (1991) and the iconic career defining role as Selina Kyle/Catwoman in "Batman Returns" (1992), "Love Field" all too often  slips under the radar in discussions regarding the film career of Michelle Pfeiffer. Which is sad, cause it's an incredibly strong performance and a very interesting piece of cinema. Sadly, like many Oscar nominees that don't claim the title (and even some winners) the film has largely been lost under the sands of time. Although it is worth noting that Michelle did win the Silver Bear for Best Actress at the Berlin Film Festival, so at least her performance wasn't completely unrewarded.

"Love Field" tells the story of Lurene Hallett, a Dallas housewife with a fanatical obsession with the first lady, Jackie O, going to the length of emulating her hairstyle and clothing. Rattled by the assassination of JFK, the second act of the film shows Lurene on a journey of self discovery (accompanied by a father and daughter she meets along the way) across the country, trying to get the the funeral for JFK in Washington. The story explores racism, women's rights in the 60s and the gigantic cultural effect of the JFK assassination. Supported by a superb cast including Dennis Haysbert and Stephanie McFadden, Michelle completely encapsulates the essence of the impact of the assassination. In a lot of ways, her performance as a Jackie O obsessed housewife is superior to that of dozens of other performances by people actually playing Jackie O.

The film still feels fresh to this day, the issues raised are still of relevance. It somehow successfully blends a serious social issue with romance, without being insensitive in doing so. The film is unafraid to show a different perspective on the Kennedy era, showing opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of political perception of the president. The pacing is well timed, varying between more subdued drama to fast paced chase scenes.

The way the film is shot has a kind of timeless feel to it. It certainly does not feel like a product of 1992. The costuming is excellent and feels completely seamless with the time period in which it belongs (there are few things more distracting than clothes looking like they could've been bought today when a film is set in an entirely different time period). 

In short, "Love Field" is a cinematic gem that is worth a look. One of the most interesting and overlooked films of Michelle's career, the film also serves as an interesting insight to the JFK assasination whilst capturing mid-sixties America in a way that is visually and emotionally stimulating.