If you weren’t at the Civic Hall on Monday night to see the last Picture Show, then you certainly missed a cinema classic. This coming of age film is based on a group of 1950s kids in their last year before graduation. This was the second time I had seen this movie and it gets deeper the more times you see it. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but shown in black and white, there is an eeriness about the place. Set in a small Texan town on it’s last legs. It’s dying.
Timothy Bottoms leads an excellent cast. along with Jeff Bridges and Cybll Shepherd. Ironically the latter two went on to fame and fortune. Timothy Bottoms didn’t.
The Director Bob Bogdanovich pauses over every scene showing the grittiness of growing up. Nothing is taboo. Radically exploring and exposing adolescence,intimacy and relationships with a directness that cinema had not seen previously. The extra minutes added with the Director’s cut made the film a tore de force. The only downside of the evening was the sound quality. It won’t be a problem in you get it out on DVD.
The Film Club’s next showing is Submarine. I’ve yet to see it, but all the reports are glowing. Look out for my blog giving you the low down.
A Big Cheese Film fan
