Picking Up The Pieces

Director: Alfonso Arau

Starring: Woody Allen, David Schwimmer, Keifer Sutherland, Maria Grazia Cucinotta

Tex (Allen), is a butcher with an unfaithful wife, Candy (Sharon Stone). When Tex catches Candy in the act he kills her and in order to conceal his crime he cuts her body up and buries it in the desert. However, he has been uncareful enough to leave one of the seven pieces, Candy's hand, uncovered. A blind woman trips over it to have her sight restored, resulting in calls that the hand is that "of the Virgin." The local priest, (Schwimmer) who is already struggling to keep to his faith, objects to the ambitious mayor of the town (Cheech Marin) creating a "get your miracles here" atmosphere. Miracle-seekers, TV crews, and local prostitutes are all interested in the hand, resulting in some comical scenes when they get what they pray for.

At the same time as all of this, the sheriff "that's Officer Bobo to you" (Sutherland) has been chasing after Candy and the "services" that she provides. He follows the scent of the case, finding the burial site before going after Tex.

The better known cast members won't want this one to become world famous, for the script is weak in parts and the support acting (save for Cucinotta, who portrays a born-again christian/prostitute) indifferent, though the one-liners are hilarious. Unusually for a film of such little acclaim, 'Picking up the Pieces' saves the very best to last and leaves you thinking, even long after you leave the cinema, which makes it a good film and well worth seeing!

Robert Gardner