Underrated entry in the Elmore Leonard film canon

In lesser hands than Paul Schrader, Elmore Leonard's non-crime novel could have become an overwrought toil in the evils of America's salacious media.

Natasha Richardson in Patty Hearst (1988)

Willem Dafoe and Greg Kinnear in Auto Focus (2002)

Ray Liotta, Joseph Fiennes, and Gretchen Mol in Forever Mine (1999)

Bridget Fonda and Michael O'Keefe in Out of the Rain (1991)

Susan Sarandon and Willem Dafoe in Light Sleeper (1992)

James Coburn and Nick Nolte in Affliction (1997)

Rupert Everett and Natasha Richardson in The Comfort of Strangers (1990)

Jeff Goldblum, Willem Dafoe, and Ayelet Zurer in Adam Resurrected (2008)

Lindsay Lohan, Nolan Gerard Funk, and James Deen in The Canyons (2013)

well, you know something I don't. I bleed from five wounds and heal people, but I've never been in love.

Skeet Ulrich, Bridget Fonda, Christopher Walken, and Tom Arnold in Touch (1997)

Skeet Ulrich, Bridget Fonda, and Christopher Walken in Touch (1997)

Bridget Fonda

Christopher Walken

Skeet Ulrich

Elmore Leonard

Paul Schrader

At the discovery of his ability to work miracles, Juvenal becomes a media sensation, but now he&apos;s prone to those who want to exploit him.

Touch

In lesser hands than Paul Schrader, Elmore Leonard&apos;s non-crime novel could have become an overwrought toil in the evils of America&apos;s salacious media.

`You are an odour in the nostrils of God,&apos; jabbers religious zealot August Murray (Tom Arnold). He is damning sometime revivalist Bill Hill&apos;s (Christopher Walken) cynical marketing of Christ-like figure Juvenal (Skeet Ulrich essentially playing Edward Scissorhands minus the blades). Hill wearing a glitzy gold jacket and an enormous `Thank You Jesus&apos; necklace sees a book deal and a slot on the awful Debra Lusanne Show (Gina Gershon superb at mimicking Ricki Lake with a snarl) for the innocent healer, who has stigmata on his rib cage.

In lesser hands than Paul Schrader, Elmore Leonard&apos;s non-crime novel could have become an overwrought toil in the evils of America&apos;s salacious media. However, Touch is actually a wryly amusing and unhurried look at faith and exploitation. The histrionics and belly laughs are bestowed upon the cameos, who obviously capture the best lines: `Do they make condoms that protect the soul&apos; (Arnold) and `Controversy is the oxygen I breathe&apos; (Gershon). Ultimately, best savoured on video. --Ben Walsh

Trailer

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTAxZmU1YTgtMzkwOS00ZjY3LTkxZDMtODA3MjkzOTg0ZTVjXkEyXkFqcGdeQXRyYW5zY29kZS13b3JrZmxvdw@@._V1_.jpg

`You are an odour in the nostrils of God,' jabbers religious zealot August Murray (Tom Arnold). He is damning sometime revivalist Bill Hill's (Christopher Walken) cynical marketing of Christ-like figure Juvenal (Skeet Ulrich essentially playing Edward Scissorhands minus the blades). Hill wearing a glitzy gold jacket and an enormous `Thank You Jesus' necklace sees a book deal and a slot on the awful Debra Lusanne Show (Gina Gershon superb at mimicking Ricki Lake with a snarl) for the innocent healer, who has stigmata on his rib cage.

In lesser hands than Paul Schrader, Elmore Leonard's non-crime novel could have become an overwrought toil in the evils of America's salacious media. However, Touch is actually a wryly amusing and unhurried look at faith and exploitation. The histrionics and belly laughs are bestowed upon the cameos, who obviously capture the best lines: `Do they make condoms that protect the soul' (Arnold) and `Controversy is the oxygen I breathe' (Gershon). Ultimately, best savoured on video. --Ben Walsh

At the discovery of his ability to work miracles, Juvenal becomes a media sensation, but now he's prone to those who want to exploit him.

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Touch

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