Chains Of Gold [DVD]

Before Pulp Fiction put him back on the mainstream cultural radar, John Travolta lent his considerable charms (and, somewhat surprisingly, cowrote the script) to this wholly schizophrenic straight-to-video L.A. gangland drama. The opening expository scenes are a bit of a drag, but be sure to hang on; what starts out as a painfully earnest paean to these troubled streets abruptly (and delightfully) switches gears to become a viscerally bruising action flick, as Travolta's troubled social worker goes undercover to save a wholesome teen from a murderous street gang. Second-half highlights include a terrific use of found locations, a completely dumbfounding suspension bridge stunt destined to wear out rewind buttons everywhere, and a flamboyant drug lord (played by Law & Order hunk Benjamin Bratt) whose swinging bachelor pad includes a decidedly nonregulation alligator pit. The DVD presentation includes a nicely rendered full-screen picture, production notes, and cast bios. Not likely to be featured in any future Travolta career retrospective, but a fun film nonetheless. --Andrew Wright