Help me out please

After a brilliant debut in his native land with "Intimate Lighting", Passer defected to the US and directed a string of mediocre movies. (Although his "Stalin" was a brave crack at an almost impossible subject).

I had somehow missed this one over the decades and hoped it would be an exception to the above generalization. I found it to be a mess.

But, given that so many sensible movie buffs esteem it, I will give it another try in a year or so (if I am spared that long). I did not watch the DVD in the best circumstances, in the small hours when I was tired, and with the volume turned down a bit so not to annoy my neighbours.

First I was surprised it was made in the eighties. It looks in every way an effort of the '70s, when American film-makers were trying to mimic the subtle ambiguities and ironies of European films (though rarely with much success).

Because of the moderate volume, I missed a lot of dialogue from the mumbling Eichhorn and the intoxicated Heard. And my DVD has no closed captions in English. Subtitles in Spanish or French, but not in English. WTF?

To assist my appreciation, can you guys throw any light on the following:

1) Bone was soon nabbed by the cops, and was their only suspect and a promising one at that. No alibi was presented, so why did the cops immediately disappear from the movie?

2) In what sort of police investigation would they confront the only suspect with a close relative of the victim?

3) Why did the sister immediately befriend the possible killer of her sister (even before the possibility of blackmail money was mooted)?

4) Why did the sister abruptly disappear from the movie halfway through with no further mention of her, let alone reason given? More generally, why was she in the movie at all, as she did not affect the plot in any way, and was a totally unbelievable character who was laughing and joking within two days of her sister's brutal murder yet claimed to be motivated by revenge?

5) Why was Cutter permitted to disrupt "posh" events with no intervention from security? Granted they might cut him some slack as disabled (and presumably a veteran) but not to the extent of endangering himself and others.

The trio's investigation and blackmail scheme was laughable. Twelve-year-olds could come up with something more adult. Why would Richard need to deliver the letter in person? Is there no postal service in California? I assumed it was to "flush out" the villain and cause a panicky reaction, but apparently not, as Cutter belatedly remembers that Richards face was plastered all over the front page of the local rag and they realize they have messed up. This scene was more appropriate to a Martin Lawrence or Ice Cube movie with clownish protagonists.

Interesting that no drug-use was depicted, when the whole style of the movie reeked of it. Perhaps all the drug-use was behind the camera?

I liked Bridges' laid-back acting and the location shooting. Otherwise, not a lot. I give it 3. Very disappointed.