'Illtown' is worth a visit

Anything writer-director Nick Gomez ("Laws of Gravity," "New Jersey Drive") does is worth watching, even when it's off the rails fTC like his latest, "Illtown." It's more druggy nightmare than narrative film.

Cisco (Kevin Corrigan), Dante (Michael Rapaport) and Dante's lover, Micky (Lili Taylor), deal drugs. They're so matter-of-fact and violence-free they could be repping pharmaceuticals. Dante and Micky feel so secure in their love and work, they want to have a baby. But when former partner Gabriel (Adam Trese) gets out of prison, their strange, middle-class life is threatened.

Rapaport does surprisingly good work. Taylor is always vivid, and Corrigan proves a welcome presence. Tony Danza delivers a sober, low-key turn as a local drug czar. The trouble is that it's not easy to care about these people. But even when we don't know what's going on, it's hard to look away.

'Illtown'

Starring Kevin Corrigan, Michael Rapaport and Lili Taylor

Directed by Nick Gomez

Released by The Shooting Gallery

Rated R (drug use, violence, language, brief nudity)

Sun Score: ** 1/2

Pub Date: 1/30/98