Alex Gates (Jack Nicholson) appears to be a successful wine merchant in Southern Florida. However, his life is falling apart; not only is he deep in debt, but he can't get along with his stepson, Jason (Stephen Dorff), or his alcoholic wife, Suzanne (Judy Davis). Alex needs to do something--and quickly. He decides to steal a valuable necklace with Gabriella (Jennifer Lopez), his mistress, and Victor (Michael Caine), an aging criminal. After the heist, Alex plans to go to New York to fence the necklace. As he packs, Suzanne returns unexpectedly. They struggle--she cold-cocks him and leaves, unknowingly taking the necklace with her....

BLOOD AND WINE is a black comedy of errors with a very hard edge. The film is full of angry people--Alex and Suzanne fight, Victor is ailing and has no time for niceties as he and Alex try to regain the necklace, Gabriella is continually anxious because she is an illegal immigrant, and Jason hates Alex. Director Bob Rafelson stirs up the stew as Caine, Lopez, Dorff, and the particularly great Davis give fine support to Nicholson's portrayal of a weary but determined man, mad at himself for letting life's obstacles get in his way.

In director Bob Rafelson's BLOOD AND WINE, Alex Gates, a broke, philandering wine dealer, decides to steal a client's diamond necklace, but he has no idea how much trouble this will cause. That's because the heist sets off a series of twists and turns, double-crosses, car chases, and violent struggles (most involving members of Alex's dysfunctional family) that put his life and sanity on the line.

Theatrical release: February 21, 1997.

Shown at the San Sebastian Film Festival, in competition, September 21, 1996. Also shown at the 1996 London Film Festival.

Shot on location in and around Key Largo, Florida.

BLOOD AND WINE is the sixth movie director Bob Rafelson and Jack Nicholson collaborated on. Nicholson did not appear in Rafelson's HEAD, but co-produced and co-wrote the Monkees vehicle. Next, they made FIVE EASY PIECES and THE KING OF MARVIN GARDENS, the first two of a loose trilogy about dysfunctional families that, Rafelson says, is completed by BLOOD AND WINE. In addition, Rafelson directed and Nicholson starred in THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE and MAN TROUBLE.

Excerpt: "Nice to have you home, just for the novelty."--Suzanne Gates (Judy Davis) to her husband, Alex (Jack Nicholson)

DVD Features:

Keep Case
Widescreen - 1.85
Audio:
Dolby Surround 5.1 - English
Dolby Surround - Spanish
Stereo - French
Subtitles - English, Spanish - Optional
Additional Release Material:
Audio Commentary - 1. Bob Rafelson - Director
2. Jack Nicholson, Stephen Dorf, Michael Caine - Stars (Specific Scenes)
Behind the Scenes - 1. "Making of Featurette - Genesis & the Characters"
2. "The Job of Acting - On Jack Nicholson, Michael Caine, Bob Rafelson"
3. "Bob and Jack - A Life-long Dialogue"
Deleted Scenes
Trailers - 1. Theatrical Trailer
2. BLACK WIDOW

Jack Nicholson: American actor, producer, ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST
Stephen Dorff: American Actor
Jennifer Lopez: Actress, SELENA, EL CANTANTE
Judy Davis: Australian Actress, BARTON FINK (1991)
Michael Caine: British Actor, ALFIE (1966)

Bob Rafelson: American Director/Screenwriter

Jeremy Thomas: Producer/Executive

Nick Villers: 
Alison Cross: 

Michal Lorenc: 

Steve Cohen: Editor

"...Methodically paced....Events get progressively intense..."
"...An amusingly caustic, straight-up serving of film noir staples spiced with star charisma..."
"...The real filial tenderness takes place between Nicholson and Caine....[They] display a real affection for one another as buddies..."
"...[A] compellingly misanthropic film noir....It is wonderful at sustaining a mood of end-of-the-road tropical dissipation..."
"...BLOOD & WINE is a deeply eroticized movie....Very compelling indeed..."
"...BLOOD & WINE is a richly textured crime picture....This is one of Nicholson's best performances..."