I'd give this film maybe 4 stars for plot, but probably 8 stars for its original and experimental cinematography and production. It is a 1960s experimental film, but with a big-studio budget and real actors. I saw this on a college film series many years ago, and like most viewers had mixed feelings about it--not the greatest film ever made, but certainly a lot of original stuff. This is more a film of bits and scenes than a whole story. If you want to see a more coherent movie about a young woman in the big city--try "TWENTY"--good, realistic and fun and sexy too.
One memorable scene from Joanna--Ms. Waite is discovered in bed with an older man when his wife unexpectedly turns up, suitcases and all, in the bedroom--caught! She deals with this by saying "Been away?" and then rushes out of the apartment in what seems to be her bedclothes. This is followed by an overwrought montage of her wandering through some lush urban park in slow motion. We do not see the psychological progression of her romance with her black lover. Just moments of them dancing together in a hallway, and then her crying after visiting him in prison.
Some IMDb reviewers have panned Donald Sutherland's performance here, but I thought he was good, and original.. His whole subplot was great!--The trip to North Africa, the closeup of the setting sun--first time I'd ever seen that effect. Sutherland's death scene is done very originally. The camera pulls back about 500 feet from his bedstead when he dies--very exaggerated and surreal. Makes a point, but again kind of overwrought.
The exuberance and experimental nature of this film make it a real product of the 1960s. It should be lumped together with the Beatles' MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR and later the Who's TOMMY. Not to mention the first 20 years of MTV in the 1980s and beyond. --Films inspired by art school classes and Italian movies by Fellini and Antonioni.
No this is not a perfect work of art or of movie entertainment, but hurray for it's willingness to try new stuff! Two bits of info about the star--Genvieve Waite--she told people that she was the reincarnation of Marilyn Monroe--even though she was clearly born before MM even died. Also--after this film, she was married for a few years to John Phillips of the rock band "Mamas and Papas." She underwent a grueling period of heroin addiction with him, and this is recounted at length in his autobiography "PAPA JOHN."
One memorable scene from Joanna--Ms. Waite is discovered in bed with an older man when his wife unexpectedly turns up, suitcases and all, in the bedroom--caught! She deals with this by saying "Been away?" and then rushes out of the apartment in what seems to be her bedclothes. This is followed by an overwrought montage of her wandering through some lush urban park in slow motion. We do not see the psychological progression of her romance with her black lover. Just moments of them dancing together in a hallway, and then her crying after visiting him in prison.
Some IMDb reviewers have panned Donald Sutherland's performance here, but I thought he was good, and original.. His whole subplot was great!--The trip to North Africa, the closeup of the setting sun--first time I'd ever seen that effect. Sutherland's death scene is done very originally. The camera pulls back about 500 feet from his bedstead when he dies--very exaggerated and surreal. Makes a point, but again kind of overwrought.
The exuberance and experimental nature of this film make it a real product of the 1960s. It should be lumped together with the Beatles' MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR and later the Who's TOMMY. Not to mention the first 20 years of MTV in the 1980s and beyond. --Films inspired by art school classes and Italian movies by Fellini and Antonioni.
No this is not a perfect work of art or of movie entertainment, but hurray for it's willingness to try new stuff! Two bits of info about the star--Genvieve Waite--she told people that she was the reincarnation of Marilyn Monroe--even though she was clearly born before MM even died. Also--after this film, she was married for a few years to John Phillips of the rock band "Mamas and Papas." She underwent a grueling period of heroin addiction with him, and this is recounted at length in his autobiography "PAPA JOHN."