One of those movies where you wish there was a book on which it was based.
A man who hosts a weird and personal talk show is summoned by his brother to Atlantic city to take part in a scheme involving a resort. His brother lives cooped up in a small hotel room with an ex-beauty queen/cheerleader and a gullible young woman.
There is no story line as such. It's just a character study of the four characters and their relationships and the thugs and conmen they interact with.
It is a film of place. It is shot around a harbor like multi racial touristy place with run down hotels and bars. I'm not an American so i don't really get the context (if there is any).
How good an actress was Ellen Burstyn. She was effortlessly brilliant in this and ALICE Don't LIVE HERE ANYMORE. Julia Ann Robinson looked adorable as the clueless young woman of whom Burstyn's character is jealous. Nicholson and Dern are rarely ever bad. Dern has the flashy role in this film.
The ending came as a surprise. I thought it was a comedy until then. I was wrong. These characters were doomed from the start. It is a film that deserves a few watches. I did not understand some things on first viewing. The film looks great on the criterion blu ray release.
(7.5/10)
A man who hosts a weird and personal talk show is summoned by his brother to Atlantic city to take part in a scheme involving a resort. His brother lives cooped up in a small hotel room with an ex-beauty queen/cheerleader and a gullible young woman.
There is no story line as such. It's just a character study of the four characters and their relationships and the thugs and conmen they interact with.
It is a film of place. It is shot around a harbor like multi racial touristy place with run down hotels and bars. I'm not an American so i don't really get the context (if there is any).
How good an actress was Ellen Burstyn. She was effortlessly brilliant in this and ALICE Don't LIVE HERE ANYMORE. Julia Ann Robinson looked adorable as the clueless young woman of whom Burstyn's character is jealous. Nicholson and Dern are rarely ever bad. Dern has the flashy role in this film.
The ending came as a surprise. I thought it was a comedy until then. I was wrong. These characters were doomed from the start. It is a film that deserves a few watches. I did not understand some things on first viewing. The film looks great on the criterion blu ray release.
(7.5/10)