Another early 1970s classic off my list that was quite well worth waiting for: Raw, stripped-off and deeply affecting account of young girl (Winn) in NYC who falls in love with a street hustler & drug user (a pre-Godfather Pacino), and slowly falls into addiction herself. With prostitution, theft and a steady descent into low-life misery as consequences, the everyday struggle of The Big Apple's drug addicts cliques, is indeed no light affair to witness...
It's refreshing to see an anti-drug message without too much simplistic morality preaching as here, where not even the narc police utter a word of "how bad it is to take drugs" - that is clearly seen on its main characters' demise as it is. No music score, naturalistic dialog and fragmental, jumpy storytelling technique do their bit for an almost documentary-, low-key feel. Alas, that latter also becomes the films' one weakness, as the connection with its characters gets cut off a few times too many... Understandably hailed and daring, however and one can clearly see its impact on "Requiem for a dream" e.g, with smashing performances from its two leads. The ending is wide open for interpretation, too...
7 out of 10 from Ozjeppe
It's refreshing to see an anti-drug message without too much simplistic morality preaching as here, where not even the narc police utter a word of "how bad it is to take drugs" - that is clearly seen on its main characters' demise as it is. No music score, naturalistic dialog and fragmental, jumpy storytelling technique do their bit for an almost documentary-, low-key feel. Alas, that latter also becomes the films' one weakness, as the connection with its characters gets cut off a few times too many... Understandably hailed and daring, however and one can clearly see its impact on "Requiem for a dream" e.g, with smashing performances from its two leads. The ending is wide open for interpretation, too...
7 out of 10 from Ozjeppe