Edwin Pereyra
Senior HTF Member
- Joined
- Oct 26, 1998
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The strangest things sure happen in small rural towns, don’t they? In The Last Picture Show, director Peter Bogdanovich shows us a slice of life in Anarene, Texas in a time between WWII and the Korean War (early 1950’s). Filmed in glorious black and white by Robert Surtees and along with the use of other techniques to yield a greater depth of field with the camera, both Bogdanovich and Surtees were able to capture the powerful images of a bleak and desolate landscape.
From a novel penned by Larry McMurtry, this critically acclaimed film, which based on a true story, chronicles a year in the lives of certain townspeople in Anarene, where there is very little to do. Sonny (Timothy Bottoms) and Duane (Jeff Bridges) are two high school seniors who pass their time hanging out at the pool hall, going to the local movie house – the Royal Theater, playing basketball and spending time with girls. Jacy (Cybill Shepherd) is Duane’s girlfriend but as a rich tease, other guys in town also pursue her.
Jacy’s mom Lois (Ellen Burstyn) is an unhappy woman who tries to find love amongst the few men left in town but only end up having meaningless physical relationships with them. Sam (Ben Johnson) who owns the local grill, pool hall and the movie house is a man that is highly respected. As Sonny comes of age and figures out his place in society, he gets into an affair with his football coach’s lonely wife Ruth (Cloris Leachman).
The impending closure of the local movie house with Howard Hawks’ Red River is a sign of a society in a state of disarray with moral values slowly disappearing and young adults growing up confused amidst the loneliness, selfishness and cynicism of others.
The Last Picture Show received 8 Oscar nominations including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Acting in a supporting role for Jeff Bridges, Ben Johnson, Ellen Burstyn and Cloris Leachman. It went on to win two Oscars in the acting categories for both Johnson and Leachman. The ensemble acting is definitely top rate.
The film is a sad examination of the complexity of life in a small and dying town. While Bogdanovich was able to capture such life with a great degree of honesty, I’m drawn into the middle as to my admiration of the film’s storyline. To a certain degree, I was able to sympathize with the situations the younger characters were faced with, while unable to connect with some of the older characters, their problems and their own motivations. One would think that in the end, each adult is ultimately able to shape his/her own life and that one almost always has a choice to get out of an unpleasant or unhappy situation should they choose to. Those who are able to, end up having content and satisfying lives. Those who don’t, end up living a life of desperation and full of regrets. But I am constantly reminded by the words, “Failure is never quite so frightening as regret” when faced with an overwhelming choice.
In its finality, The Last Picture Show leaves us with the image of Billy, the boy who continually sweeps the dust around town in utter futility. He represents the sole fixture for hope where hope continues to fade away and for change where change is needed in a life full of loneliness and unrealized dreams.
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Film Greats – A continuing quick look at motion pictures that, in one way or another, have been called “great films” by some. Other Films In This Series: Mike Nichols’ http://www.hometheaterforum.com/uub/Forum9/HTML/007544.html http://www.hometheaterforum.com/uub/Forum9/HTML/006466.html
From a novel penned by Larry McMurtry, this critically acclaimed film, which based on a true story, chronicles a year in the lives of certain townspeople in Anarene, where there is very little to do. Sonny (Timothy Bottoms) and Duane (Jeff Bridges) are two high school seniors who pass their time hanging out at the pool hall, going to the local movie house – the Royal Theater, playing basketball and spending time with girls. Jacy (Cybill Shepherd) is Duane’s girlfriend but as a rich tease, other guys in town also pursue her.
Jacy’s mom Lois (Ellen Burstyn) is an unhappy woman who tries to find love amongst the few men left in town but only end up having meaningless physical relationships with them. Sam (Ben Johnson) who owns the local grill, pool hall and the movie house is a man that is highly respected. As Sonny comes of age and figures out his place in society, he gets into an affair with his football coach’s lonely wife Ruth (Cloris Leachman).
The impending closure of the local movie house with Howard Hawks’ Red River is a sign of a society in a state of disarray with moral values slowly disappearing and young adults growing up confused amidst the loneliness, selfishness and cynicism of others.
The Last Picture Show received 8 Oscar nominations including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Acting in a supporting role for Jeff Bridges, Ben Johnson, Ellen Burstyn and Cloris Leachman. It went on to win two Oscars in the acting categories for both Johnson and Leachman. The ensemble acting is definitely top rate.
The film is a sad examination of the complexity of life in a small and dying town. While Bogdanovich was able to capture such life with a great degree of honesty, I’m drawn into the middle as to my admiration of the film’s storyline. To a certain degree, I was able to sympathize with the situations the younger characters were faced with, while unable to connect with some of the older characters, their problems and their own motivations. One would think that in the end, each adult is ultimately able to shape his/her own life and that one almost always has a choice to get out of an unpleasant or unhappy situation should they choose to. Those who are able to, end up having content and satisfying lives. Those who don’t, end up living a life of desperation and full of regrets. But I am constantly reminded by the words, “Failure is never quite so frightening as regret” when faced with an overwhelming choice.
In its finality, The Last Picture Show leaves us with the image of Billy, the boy who continually sweeps the dust around town in utter futility. He represents the sole fixture for hope where hope continues to fade away and for change where change is needed in a life full of loneliness and unrealized dreams.
- - -
Film Greats – A continuing quick look at motion pictures that, in one way or another, have been called “great films” by some. Other Films In This Series: Mike Nichols’ http://www.hometheaterforum.com/uub/Forum9/HTML/007544.html http://www.hometheaterforum.com/uub/Forum9/HTML/006466.html