bk753

...because in 2025, it's horribly dated, having aged terribly.

I didn't love "Citizen Kane" but I appreciated the unique camera work and directorial subtleties that went into it. The same should apply here... but they don't. I'm sure at the time, the film style, the handheld cameras, the voice overs, etc... were revolutionary. 65 years later, it's hard to appreciate these, because they're commonplace now. Based on the story alone, this film falls short of "classic" for me. And while it's possible for an "older" movie to have dialogue that still resonates today ("Casablanca" and "North by Northwest" for example), this film falls far short in that regard. This is a thin script that relies on shock value and a unique style to work. And it's all been done better, since.

So, a 6 for me on merit, but a 7 out of respect for how it must have blown people away in 1960.

...so if you LIKE Hallmark movies, then this is right up your alley, and if you want, or expect something more, then you should look elsewhere. I watched with my wife, and we kept pausing to mention all the dopey things we saw throughout the film. Believe me when I tell you, we guessed the final resolution of the movie at about the 20 minute mark, and we were right. So if you're looking for something noteworthy, more involved, or with any level of depth, this isn't for you. It's 1:45 of sappy fluff, and it's not terribly well acted. But again, if you enjoy cheesy rom-coms whose plot you have seen numerous times already, you'll probably like this. And there IS some lovely scenery. Not a total waste of time, but definitely for a targeted market, and not one that I am generally in.

I don't know if my problem is that this movie didn't age well, or that the story is just thin to begin with, but after seeing all the "10" reviews from professional critics, I assume I just expected more. Absolutely true that the acting, especially Nicholson, is very good, but also absolutely true that the story is sparse, and the characters are people we really don't care much about. I'm sure when it came out in 1973, this film was shocking, and unique, but by 2025, it has lost a lot of its luster. It has value as a "character study," but not so much as "entertainment." I kept waiting for more to happen, for. Meadows to try harder for a more lucid escape (he had plenty of opportunities), but it never happened. Way too much time spent on insignificant things, like the stop in Camden to visit a mother who wasn't home, or the bathroom fight in Penn Station, etc.. I didn't hate it, but I can't help feeling that viewed today, the best word I can use for it is "overrated." Hard to recommend, but not a total waste of time. Meh.