Scarecrow (1973)
8/10
How did I not know about this one?
31 October 2006
Warning: Spoilers
I love films like this that aren't always the most acclaimed. Being a big Pacino fan I saw this title pop up on my Tivo. I had no idea what to expect and I was blown away by its power.

The film starts out slow, as expected, because its a story about to traveling drifters. If it wasn't for Pacino and Hackman, I probably would have lost interest. What grabs you are the long uncut takes with both actors, showing you just how wonderful they are. Hackman is the tough guy who has just gotten out of prison. He has his money saved and wants to open a car wash in Pittsburgh. Pacino is the joker who has been at sea and wants to make his way back to Detroit to visit his child who he has never seen or even knows the sex of. They make their way through the country and the irony of the title of the film rears its head.

The ending is in fact heartbreaking. Pacino gets assaulted in prison and doesn't exactly have good news about his child when he gets to Detroit. Hackman learns to lay off his aggressive attitude, taking cues from Pacino's character. Giving away the entire ending would ruin it, so I won't.

The film is a great study from two great actors in the human experience.
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