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Trust Weighted
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5Trust Points
BigdaddyDave's Review
Summary - Good 3.0
Jack Lemmon gives a powerful performance as Harry Stoner, a middle aged business owner who is struggling to make ends meet. Faced with mounting debt, and an increasingly pessimistic view of society, Harry falls into drinking, adultery, and potential criminal action to make ends meet and find happiness. On top of all that, he still harbors unresolved issues from his wartime days, and suffers from flashbacks and hallucinations.
Lemmon reportedly was so adamant about seeing this low-budget drama make it to the big screen, that he agreed to work on salary, bringing home less than $200 a week while filming. He viewed the film as an important challenge for his career, seeing the role as something that could help him deal with his own struggles with alcohol.
In many ways, this film could just as easily have taken place in today’s times. With increasing unemployment, people searching for an escape, and more and more business owners struggling, the thematic elements would ring true today.
This is a taught dramatic piece, that moves along at a deliberate pace. So the potential viewer should understand the time period the film was shot in (1973), as well as be aware of the sometimes dated language. Those looking for action may better be served passing on this flick.
Great acting by Lemmon makes this film a potential treasure you may not have heard of before.