Touch (1997) **1/2

I finished reading the book recently and wasn't aware that there was a film version of TOUCH (1997) until then. Despite Paul Schrader writing the screenplay and directing and a decent cast (Bridget Fonda, Christopher Walken, Tom Arnold), this one really fails to capture that Elmore Leonard feel the way that GET SHORTY, JACKIE BROWN and OUT OF SIGHT (still the best Elmore adaptation IMO) did so well in the 90s. Which might have been hard to do anyway, as the book is quite different from most of Leonard's typical fare. Regardless, the tone of this film is scattershot, most of the actors were miscast and/or poorly adapted and the score (by Dave Grohl) is all wrong for a Leonard adaptation.

Some fun facts: Schrader originally wanted to adapt Leonard's 'Rum Punch', but when Tarantino obtained the rights and made JACKIE BROWN, Schrader decided to adapt 'Touch' instead. AND Fonda had roles in both films, both released in 1997!