On DVD (Released 1971). R-rated, 126 minutes.
When old age shall this generation waste, Thou shalt remain in midst of other woe, Than ours, a friend to man, to whom thou say'st: "Beauty is truth, truth beauty,"...that is all Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know. John Keats.
The Last Picture Show is a portrait of the soul of West Texas in the 1950's. Based on a Larry McMurty book and directed by Peter Bogdanovich, it tracks the trials and travails of high school senior Sonny Crawford (played by Timothy Bottoms, a dead ringer for a young George W. Bush).
The movie explores multiple interesting themes, all very well: class issues, lust, beauty as power, youth, and small town life. Countless films have explored the claustrophobia and perfect facade with a brooding underbelly of small towns; this film started that genre and sets the standard. Pleasantville, Dazed and Confused, Far from Heaven and dozens of others all owe a debt to The Last Picture Show.
The movie is shot entirely in black and white, to powerful effect. Bogdanovich uses the lack of color as well as the windy, cold and barren streets of Anarene (the name of the town) to set the tone of life in the high plains. Several frames of the film are exceedingly beautiful, and the director uses the big, empty spaces in West Texas to dominate much of each exterior shot, to heighten the feeling of isolation.
Lost and unrequited love as well as foolish choices dominate the story. Sonny falls for his basketball coach's 40 year old wife (Cloris Leachman, who won an Oscar for her performance) but then drops her in an instant to date his best friend's ex-girlfriend Jacy (played by a stunning young Cybil Shepherd). Jacy is the best looking girl in town, and her mom (Ellen Burstyn) a mirror image of her, 20 years later, doesn't want her to settle for a roughneck.
The heart of the movie is Sam (Ben Johnson - who won an Oscar for his performance), a mirror image of Sonny, 20 years later. He runs the local movie theater and pool hall, and serves as a father figure to Sonny and many of the town's boys. He can see his life flash before him as Sonny, Duane and Jacy play out their adolescence.
Had I seen this in 1971, I would've given it an A. Unfortunately, the pacing of the film and the bad performance of the main character by Timothy Bottoms took me out of the movie too much. The quote beginning this review is from a scene in their school (taught by Higgins from Magnum PI), and it sums the movie up.
2 comments:
A - the best film of 1971. It's not as brisk as French Connection, but its contemplative pace allows it to resonate. Timothy Bottoms is fine with repeat viewings and he has played the current president several times in recent years.
(1971- 1. Last Picture Show, 2. Clockwork Orange, 3. French Connection, 4. The Hospital, 5. Straw Dogs, 6. Bananas, 7. Harold and Maude, 8. Dirty Harry, 9. McCabe and Mrs. Miller, 10. Klute, 11. Get Carter, 12. Duel)
There are many who can't appreciate the wide open spaces of West Texas. I won't name any names. But just remember beauty is truth and truth, beauty, blah, blah, blah . . .
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