Year of Release: 1970
Director: Bob Rafelson
Screenplay: Carole Eastman (as Adrien Joyce), story by Bob Rafelson and Carole Eastman
Starring: Jack Nicholson, Karen Black, Susan Anspach
Running Time: 98 minutes
Genre: Drama
Bobby Dupea (Nicholson) works on a rig in the oil fields of California, and lives with his waitress girlfriend Rayette (Black), who dreams of becoming a country music singer. In his spare time, Bobby spends his time bowling, drinking in dive bars and picking up women. Despite acting the part of a blue collar worker, Bobby has a very privileged background, being a piano prodigy from a very wealthy family. When he learns that his father is dying, Bobby returns to Washington State to reconnect with his estranged family.
This is one of the key films of the "New Hollywood" movement of the late 1960s to early 1980s. This features Jack Nicholson, fresh off Easy Rider (1969), in one of his finest performances. Bobby Dupea is a charismatic, angry, self-destructive and highly intelligent man, and Nicholson conveys that in a subtle, nuanced performance, making a largely unlikeable character fascinating and sympathetic, despite some of Bobby's pretty reprehensible acts. There are a few moments where Nicholson lets loose with what would become his trademark manic schtick, there are several moments of real emotion. However it is not a one man show. Karen Black is impressive as Rayette, Bobby's chatty, working-class girlfriend who genuinely cares about Bobby, despite the horrible way he treats her. Largely cheerful and good natured, she conveys a lot with small looks and tone of voice. Bobby treats Rayette with total contempt, frequently cheating on her and seeing her as uncouth, irritating and kind of stupid. When he goes to visit his family home, he puts her up in a motel because he is embarrassed by her, although she does follow him when she runs out of money. However, he does defend her when she is mocked by his family's obnoxious friends, which is probably the nicest thing that he does for her in the course of the film. Susan Anspach play Catherine, Bobby's brother's girlfriend, who becomes the object of Bobby's attentions, and her lacerating speech to him, where she pretty much verbally tears him apart, is a highlight. Lois Smith is also impressive as Bobby's fragile sister Partita. This is almost a film of three parts, starting as a gritty portrayal of blue collar life, briefly turning into a road movie about a third of the way through, and then turning into a bleak family drama. There are also some really funny moments, such as the scene where Bobby jumps in the back of a moving van to play the piano, and the famous scene in a diner where Bobby is determined to get his plain toast in the face of an obstinate waitress. This was the second film Bob Rafelson directed, following the surreal musical-comedy film Head (1968), starring The Monkees, and co-written by Rafelson and Jack Nicholson. Here he directs with an almost documentary style, giving each segment of the film a distinct look, from the saturated yellows and golds of the California scenes, to the cool, crisp, greens and dark browns of the Washington scenes. It all ends on a highly ambiguous note.
No comments:
Post a Comment