Ever watch a movie that feels like a dream you had after eating a slightly questionable street taco? That’s basically the vibe of Alan Rudolph’s 1985 cult classic. But honestly, the real reason we’re still talking about it isn’t just the neon-soaked "Rain City" setting—it’s the Trouble in Mind movie cast. This group of actors shouldn't have worked together on paper, yet they created something so weirdly magnetic it defies regular Hollywood logic.
We’re talking about a country music legend, a 1980s "it girl," a member of the Carradine acting dynasty, and a legendary drag queen—only the drag queen isn't in drag.
The Heavy Hitters of Rain City
At the center of this misty, neo-noir universe is Kris Kristofferson. He plays Hawk, an ex-cop who just finished a stint in the slammer for murder. Kristofferson brings that weary, gravel-voiced gravitas he’s known for, but there's a softness to him here that makes the whole "tough guy seeking redemption" trope actually feel fresh.
Then you’ve got Keith Carradine as Coop. Now, if you know Alan Rudolph’s work, you know Carradine is basically his muse. In this one, he starts out as a sort of naive bumpkin but slowly devolves into this pompadoured, wannabe gangster with a look that screams "I watched too many Elvis movies and then fell into a vat of hair grease."
The Women Holding It Together
It’s easy to get lost in the male posturing, but the women are the emotional anchors of the film.
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- Lori Singer plays Georgia. She was coming off the massive success of Footloose, and she brings this ethereal, almost fragile innocence to the role of the young mother caught between Hawk and Coop.
- Geneviève Bujold is Wanda. She runs the diner where everyone ends up. Bujold is one of those actresses who can do more with a weary sigh than most people can do with a five-minute monologue.
Wanda is the one who delivers that killer line: "It’s a good thing love is blind, or else it’d see too much." Talk about a mood.
The Casting Choice Everyone Remembers: Divine
You can't talk about the Trouble in Mind movie cast without mentioning Divine. Usually, when people think of Divine, they think of John Waters movies, 15-pound wigs, and... well, eating things that shouldn't be eaten on camera.
But in this movie? Divine plays a mob boss named Hilly Blue. And he plays him out of drag.
It is arguably one of the most brilliant pieces of casting in 80s cinema. Playing Hilly Blue as a refined, slightly effete, but utterly terrifying criminal kingpin, Divine proved he had serious acting chops beyond the campy spectacles. He’s menacing in a way that’s quiet and precise. He’s always followed around by a personal violinist, which is just the kind of bizarre "Rain City" detail that makes this movie stick in your brain.
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Supporting Players and Hidden Gems
The depth of this cast goes way beyond the top-billed stars. You’ve got Joe Morton playing Solo. Most people know him now from Scandal or as Cyborg’s dad in the DC movies, but here he’s a poetic hustler with a war-torn past. His chemistry with Carradine’s Coop is one of the more underrated parts of the film.
And then there's George Kirby as Lieutenant Gunther. Kirby was a legendary comedian and impressionist, and seeing him play the world-weary lawman adds another layer of "where do I know that guy from?" energy to the proceedings.
Why the Cast Matters More Than the Plot
The plot of Trouble in Mind is, frankly, a bit of a mess. It’s a "yesterday’s version of tomorrow" kind of story where everyone wears trench coats but also futuristic sunglasses. It was filmed in Seattle, but it feels like it takes place in a comic book.
Without this specific cast, the movie would likely have been forgotten. They buy into the artifice. When Kristofferson builds those tiny, intricate models of the city, or when Bujold stares wistfully out the diner window, you believe them. They treat the stylized dialogue like it's Shakespeare, which is why the movie works as a "mood piece" rather than just another crime flick.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the Performances
A lot of critics at the time—and even some modern viewers—call the acting "stilted."
That’s a bit of a misunderstanding. Alan Rudolph directed his actors to be archetypes. They aren't supposed to be "real people" you’d meet at a Starbucks. They are movie characters living in a world made of other movies.
If you go in expecting a gritty, realistic crime drama like The Wire, you’re going to be annoyed. But if you watch it as a cinematic poem where the actors are the verses? Then it’s a masterpiece.
Notable Cast Credits:
- Kris Kristofferson: Hawk (The hero/Ex-con)
- Keith Carradine: Coop (The punk/Husband)
- Lori Singer: Georgia (The waif/Innocent)
- Geneviève Bujold: Wanda (The wisdom/Diner owner)
- Divine: Hilly Blue (The villain/Mob boss)
- Joe Morton: Solo (The partner-in-crime)
Your Next Steps for Exploring Rain City
If you’ve never seen the film, don't just look up clips on YouTube. The soundtrack by Mark Isham, featuring Marianne Faithfull’s raspy vocals on the title track, is inseparable from the performances. It’s a total sensory package.
To really appreciate what this cast did, try to find the Shout! Factory 25th Anniversary edition. It has some great context on how Rudolph gathered this specific "stock company" of actors. Once you see Trouble in Mind, you’ll start seeing these actors everywhere in 80s indie cinema—usually in much less interesting roles.
Check out Choose Me (1984) right after this. It features many of the same faces (Carradine and Bujold especially) and helps you see how this specific group of performers became the "cool kids" of the mid-80s art-house scene.