Next Stop, Greenwich Village
A young actor leaves his mother's home in Brooklyn to find his way in 1950s Greenwich Village. There, he is exposed to new experiences, from drugs to interracial relationships to homosexuality to early rock and roll.
Member Reviews
Amarcord it's not - Bunuel
Paul Mazursky is an interesting auteur. He made some excellent movies - chiefly An Unmarried Woman - and also a lot of crap. I'm afraid this movie - despite its reputation with some critics and its popularity in France and Argentina - falls a lot closer to the latter category than the former. (Why movies by New York Jewish intellectuals are so popular in those two countries is a matter that should be investigated, but I do not have the space here.)
It's not that this movie is bad, as that it's just not very interesting. Personally, I never felt engaged by the people involved. Considering that I have a fair bit in common with the coming-of-age hero, Larry Lapinsky, I think that tells you a lot. Lenny Baker tries very hard as Larry. Too hard, and that's a big part of the problem. I found him almost completely charmless. Shelley Winters, doing her patented over the moon Jewish mother routine, is way too much. Which is a pity, because in the final scene when she reins it in, she shows that she's a fine actress. That scene, and another when she and Larry's father arrive unannounced at a wild party at Larry's tiny apartment and she dances with the gay black friend - to Larry's chagrin - are the only ones that came alive for me.
Mike Kellin, as the father, was very good. The real treat, though, was Chris Walken as an egotistical writer. His performance is almost entirely lacking the mannerisms for which he has become infamous. Stripped down, he's an excellent actor.
The best thing about this movie is the soundtrack music of the Dave Brubeck Quartet, from the "Time Out" album. I think it's worth noting that while the movie is set in 1953 Greenwich Village, this famous album was not recorded until 1959; and that Brubeck and sax player Paul Desmond are associated with the West Coast jazz sound. So much for authenticity.
The commentary by Mazursky is more interesting than the movie, although it was obviously recorded at more than one
Member Reviews
Read All...
Amarcord it's not - Bunuel
Paul Mazursky is an interesting auteur. He made some excellent movies - chiefly An Unmarried Woman - and also a lot of crap. I'm afraid this movie - despite its reputation with some critics and its popularity in France and Argentina - falls a lot closer ...