Straight Time (1978)

[titoli]

I thought I had seen it, but if I did only the jewelry shop heist and Busey's death looked familiar. But having just read the novel I was forced to watch it. Well, being shot in California it is a noir with little noir, but the story is noir for sure. The story of the novel, which is surely one of the best crime novel with just a little bit of verbosity I'd gladly do without, but still a 8/10, probably even more. The movie takes up the main element of the plot (the author contributed to the screenplay and does a bit part) but it must leave much off. Characters, plot turns and of course what motivates the narrator. Probably, if I hadn't read the novel, I'd give the movie a higher rate than 7/10. But this is a must see anyway.   

[cigar joe]

I thought I had seen it, but if I did only the jewelry shop heist and Busey's death looked familiar. But having just read the novel I was forced to watch it. Well, being shot in California it is a noir with little noir, but the story is noir for sure. The story of the novel, which is surely one of the best crime novel with just a little bit of verbosity I'd gladly do without, but still a 8/10, probably even more. The movie takes up the main element of the plot (the author contributed to the screenplay and does a bit part) but it must leave much off. Characters, plot turns and of course what motivates the narrator. Probably, if I hadn't read the novel, I'd give the movie a higher rate than 7/10. But this is a must see anyway.

Its about right for the film, I've never read the novel.

[T.H.]

I saw this somewhat recently and undersold its quality. It's a great combination of a character study + crime film and Emmet Walsh steals all of his scenes. Dustin Hoffman is very believable as a small time ex-con and the rest of the cast is great: Harry Dean Stanton, Theresa Russell, Gary Busey and Kathy Bates. A-

[titoli]

I also read Dog Eat Dog, set in LA in the '90's. Good, but I'd say half a notch under Bunker's first. I wonder though how many of these pros, in real life, do armed robberies and other stuff  having dope crazy fiends as partners.