Review by Doug Cooper
Stars Jack Nicholson, Karen Black, Billy Green Bush, Fannie Flagg, Sally Struthers, Marlena MacGuire, Richard Stahl, Lois Smith, Helena Kallianiotes, Toni Basil, Lorna Thayer
Written by Adrien Joyce
Certification 15
Runtime 98 minutes
Directed by Bob Rafelson
Nominated for Best Film at the 1970 Oscars (it lost out to Patton), as was Jack Nicholson for Best Actor (George C Scott won - and refused - the prize), this subtle, beautifully acted drama has stood the test of time well, and now has a welcome re-release at London's BFI Southbank.
It's very much a movie of the '70s. Director Bob Rafelson lets his players take their time to fully inhabit their characters and there's a truthfulness to the performances that is most impressive. It also has a downbeat feel to it that was indicative of that decade, never trying to force or manipulate the emotions, imbuing the script with a cynicism that resonated for its time.
Nicholson plays Bobby Dupea, the energetic but hateful scion of a sophisticated family of musicians. At the start we see him working on an oil rig and unhappily living with his waitress girlfriend Rayette (Black, also an Oscar nominee). When he finds out that his elderly father is very ill, they take a trip to his family home, stopping off to pick up a couple of hitch-hikers for part of the journey. The scene where they're in the truck stop cafe and he tries to order off menu is still a marvellous highlight.
After leaving Rayette in a nearby hotel he spends time with his upper class siblings. His elder brother Carl (Waite) is in a relationship with pretty piano player Catherine (Anspach) and Bobby sleeps with her. His younger sister Partita (Smith) has the hots for the male nurse (Ryan) looking after their father. After two weeks Rayette makes an unwelcome appearance and Bobby must soon decide on his future. Or does he?
It's a nuanced, well observed study of class in America – something rarely tackled in US cinema - as well as a biting critique of an American lifestyle at war with itself. There's no slack here – every scene counts, not one look, word or thought is wasted. Excellent.