Interesting, lower keyed crime show...
You have another 'Charley Varrick' kinda flick here, or if you will, like
'the Seven-ups' from the same era. Bell bottems, side-burns, everyone looks like David Cassidy from a certain age; the cars are Galaxies or Bonnevilles, great big boats. This film borrowed from 'Bullitt' and 'the French Connection' as did the others I mentioned-mucho gun on location shooting, a few gunfights, policework galore, emphasis on a low-key, realistic approach. I agree-it all works, though it does date the flix in general. (I think Serpico and Scorpio fit in here too, along with some Bronson stuff.) Anyways...not too belabor the point... Spoilers below....!! Mitchum was really good, focused, they said on AMC that this was a one-take affair, 6 weeks max. It shows, but to the good-like in a good, no nonsense TV show. I liked the familiar faces-Robert Jordan, Steven Keats, Alex Rocco, joe Santos(Rockford), etc-but I Did have some trouble keeping Keats and Jordan apart in the early going. Similar builds, hair, looks. Yeah I know. It's the truth. I liked Peter Boyle too-he and Mitchum kept on vying to see who would turn on the others first-it was too bad that Mitchum wound up dead in his car instead of Boyle stuffed in a trunk, but that is how it goes in the real world. I too liked it's downbeat, washed out style, this does hold up well. Drawback is that it's sorta slow; and you have seen it all before. Clearly this is something Tarentino has been watching too. *** outta ****, maybe add another 1/2* for the performances. . 
Sleepy story of a lonesome loser
I was lucky enough to catch this on video before they pulled in out of
release. It was during Mitchum's last hurrah, when he made interesting character studies like "Farewell, My Lovely." This story is a loser's tale, in the same vein as many of Paul Newman's best films, like "The Hustler" and "Nobody's Fool." Some audiences will have a hard time with the nature of the role because they expect a tough guy like Mitchum to kick into gear at any moment, but he never does because it's not that kind of movie. Rumor has it that director Peter Yates is frequently harassed by friends and collegues who have heard of this gem and tried to get their hands on a copy. Let's hope it comes to DVD soon, so we can all relish one of the great stars in one of his last meaty parts.. |
Trailers: |
