This film follows doomed lovers Helen and Bobby as they steal, shoot heroin and try to survive at 72nd St and Broadway, known in '60s/'70s New York as Needle Park. Based on the book by James Mills, this film was released in 1971.
Adapted for the screen by the great American writers - a couple themselves - Joan Didion and John Gregory Dunne. Produced by Dominick Dunne.
Directed by Jerry Schatzberg, who was nominated for the Palme D'Or at Cannes for this film.
Starring a very young Al Pacino, as Bobby, and Kitty Winn, as Helen. Winn won Best Actress at Cannes for this role.
REVIEW by Cinemagirl:
This film is an insane ride. It is like watching a train wreck - eyes glued in one place, unable to look away at the carnage unfolding before you. All in all, I loved it! Here's why...
The film was completely shot cinema verite, making it feel very much like a documentary, which in turn makes the drug abuse and rough lives of the main characters all the more palpable and real. All lighting was either natural or completely motivated.
The scenery is also the real deal. The full cast of motley characters regularly congregate in Sherman Square (Needle Park) at 72nd and Broadway where they ride out their heroin usage, swap stories and try to score more drugs or money. The regular traffic flows by in the background, people pass by on the street, all in a very raw and realistic way.
Bobby and Helen's various fleabag apartments, and those of their friends, are just what would be expected of a group of addicts: sparse, dirty, no frills. Again, keeping with the reality of it all.
The "panic" in Needle Park refers to drug shortages caused by narcotics busts. When supply is low on the street, the addicts suffer and struggle to get their next fix.
The relationship between Bobby and Helen is a curious one. At first, it's hard to figure out just why a seemingly normal chick like Helen would get involved with a drug user and petty thief who, as Bobby claims, has been in jail eight times. But we begin to realize that she is a fragile woman who has a host of personal problems and has been in countless meritless relationships. Bobby is a charming, enigmatic guy. He knows how to sweet talk people, but his addiction always gets the best of him.
I know, the characters sound tormented. And honestly, who would want to watch two hours of people shooting up and going through personal trauma? BUT - the story, cinematography and acting are just soooo well done. This film is a great representation of the American New Wave of the '70s. I would totally watch it again.
STORY: 9.5
LOOK: 10
ACTING: 10
3 comments:
Have you seen Drugstore Cowboy? It might provide an excellent opportunity for compare/contrast...
That's a great flick, too. I found this one to be much more serious though. Somehow, I thought Drugstore Cowboy was a more "fun" drug movie (even with the dead chick)than Needle Park. Maybe we should review Drugstore Cowboy sometime.
It *had* to come back, this hunk of misery---now that legalizing narcotics as a political enterprise is back from the 1970s, this cinematic *spooge* glamorizing dope is back too.
I remember this pile of ca-ca when it came out. Getting high was hip, cool, turning on was the "done thing". The characters who bought into that evil dream are *no longer alive* and they did not *go pretty*.
And who ever really believed deep down that Al Pacino was a real-live *serious* actor ? He's got the same shtick he's been running for 40+ years. *yawn*
HOT FLASH: Junkies are boring boring BORRRING. All stoners are about as coherent as community-care chronics.
Spending money to *sit in the dark* and watch *junkie-porn* like this raises serious questions about the mental process of anyone doing so.
Cheers !
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