A slow, intense and bizarre film that could never get made today on the kind of mega-budget it clearly has. Many of the (beautifully shot) images stick in the mind and it's undoubtedly an unsettling experience (very reminiscent of proto-David Lynch) but the lack of any actual characters deadens the effect. The spectacularly grotesque and overblown climax, for example, would have a lot more resonance if there was anyone to actually care about but the (excellent) cast play simply metaphors, pawns in an allegorical game, rather than actual people with feelings or motivation. After two and a half hours, this wears a little thin, leaving the finalé just an eye-popping display of directorial dazzle instead of the devastating suckerpunch it could've been. Still, a unique film and one worth watching once for its sheer "wtf?" factor, even if it doesn't entirely hit the mark.

Slow moving at first, this astoundingly overlooked noir draws you in to the underbelly of 30's Hollywoodland like Polanski could only dream of, only to reach a stunning crescendo in the last 17 mins that leaves you breathless. Donald Southerland and Karen Black are both on fine form along with a surprising debut of one Jackie Earl Hayley as a song and dance boy that looks unnervingly like Shirley Temple! Once seen, never forgotten.

Um, yikes.

Delightful!

A slow, intense and bizarre film that could never get made today on the kind of mega-budget it clearly has. Many of the (beautifully shot) images stick in the mind and it's undoubtedly an unsettling experience (very reminiscent of proto-David Lynch) but the lack of any actual characters deadens the effect. The spectacularly grotesque and overblown climax, for example, would have a lot more resonance if there was anyone to actually care about but the (excellent) cast play simply metaphors, pawns in an allegorical game, rather than actual people with feelings or motivation. After two and a half hours, this wears a little thin, leaving the finalé just an eye-popping display of directorial dazzle instead of the devastating suckerpunch it could've been. Still, a unique film and one worth watching once for its sheer "wtf?" factor, even if it doesn't entirely hit the mark.

Um, yikes.

wtf

Good character driven film, although expected a little more from the Schlesinger/Salt combination, considering the masterpiece that is Midnight Cowboy. Interesting that Donald Sutherland's character's name is Homer Simpson.

A movie about old Hollywood/ With Donald Sutherland!? This should be a recipe for success, but this meandering, generally plot-less mess was abandoned after 45 minutes.

Life's flotsam and jetsam turn up at late 1930's Holloywoodland's door, once more, in this insightful tale of wannabes and desperadoes. Tod Hackett, artist, has inspirations to become noticed until he meets Faye Greener, blonde bombshell, and is immediately smitten. She has other ideas. She has Homer Simpson, victim, in her sights and cruelty and loneliness takes new meaning as all three are slowly sucked into the Hollywood system of sycophants, liggers and parasites, sucking the life from others as the life, and soul, is slowly sucked from them.

Directed with great style by John Schlesinger and filled with wonderful performances this is a film you won't forget in a hurry and one that seems to be criminally unseen by the majority of cinephiles and movie fans alike. I've read somebody describe it as Mulholland Drive but with more blood and that should be enough to send you all out on the hunt for this fantastic movie.

Karen Black in great form as a young actress who wants it all in early Hollywood.