Caught

A staid, forthright New Jersey fishmonger. His sultry and yearning wife. A handsome young drifter, whom they welcome into their home and business. Into this already volatile mix comes a fil fatale, the spoiled and spiteful son who returns home and becomes increasingly resentful of the stranger in his (and, he discovers, his mother's) bed. The stage is set for some predictable James Cain nastiness, but this compassionate film noir will reel you in. Edward James Olmos and earthy beauty Maria Conchita Alonso make the most of their rare starring roles, and newcomer Arie Verveen is the strapping actor for whom the adjective "Brando-esque" was coined. Recommended.DVD Review--September 9, 2003--Columbia TriStar, 110 min., R, $24.95--Debuting on DVD in an extra-less anamorphic widescreen edition, Caught boasts a decent transfer (viewers will notice a bit of grain) and a solid Dolby Digital surround soundtrack. Bottom line: a solid sexy drama with an appealing Latino cast, Caught is worth picking up. (K. Lee Benson)