This is a good one that I’d forgotten about. With The French Connection, The Conversation and Scarecrow it cements a place for Gene Hackman in the firmament of actor heaven for all time. It also reminds us how good Arthur Penn could be. It also gave us the memorable quip about Eric Rohmer. “I saw a Rohmer film once. It was kind of like watching paint dry.” Another good line was Harry’s response to being asked who was winning the football game he was watching on the tube. “No one. One side’s just losing faster than the other.” That was one deeply alienated character. Since we’re talking about alienation, and all, as an expression of futility, the conclusion of the film is unforgettable. This is going right to the top of my Netflix pile. Thanks for making me remember.
Love this film and agree that its one of Hackman’s best. Favorite quote: “Harry thinks if you call him Harry again he’s gonna make you eat that cat.”
Brown Battery
Saw this again (3rd or 4th time?) last night and I found it still very engaging and affecting in a totally new way. The scene where the Jennifer Warren character Paula visits Moseby’s cabin was pivotal and reads one way (as a touching attempt by two lonely people to connect) at the moment but turns out to have been something of a betrayal later on. Both hit me very hard as I found myself identifying with first Paula and later by Harry as he realizes he’s been played.