Summer of 101 Movies #97: Atlantic City

Welcome back! Sorry for the break, but, once again, we're using Netflix to get these movies. Expect a break every two or so reviews. But, back to the task at hand. Today's film is one of the few to be nominated in all of the top Oscar's (Best picture, director, actor, actress, and screenplay) and loose each category. Another movie to show off a city, or at least what's left of it. I'm talking about...

Let's Begin

PLOT

Lou is an old, washed up, low level mobster whose life never went anywhere. The most mobsterish thing that happens to him is taking peoples lottery numbers. It all changes when he falls for a young casino worker named Sally. Sally's life isn't too great either. Her husband (technically ex-husband, but they never officially got a divorce) and his new pregnant wife, Sally's scatterbrain sister, come to town to sell some stolen drugs. But, Sally's husband is killed and leaves the drugs and money with Lou. Lou and Sally are now sorta on the run from the mobsters who's drugs were stolen.

PROS

Burt Lancaster and Susan Sarandon are amazing in this film. The stand out being Lancaster. He really conveys the unfullment in this old man's life and almost seems like a real person. While Susan Sarandon, as always, is very good in her role.

The movie has a very "nostalgic" feel to it. There are a lot of scenes of people reminiscing about the good ol' days of the city or of their life. It's almost like Midnight in Paris without the lesson of "living in the present" at the end.

The film is realistic, never sugar coating, but never showing you anything outrageous. It never goes over the top, and sticks with the tone and atmosphere.

The characters and dialogue are very memorable. One great character is Sally's sister, who seems like a hippie that never realized Woodstock ended, has a great line when she explains why she doesn't "believe" in seat belts. Her reason? She "doesn't believe in Gravity". I literally died laughing. I'm pretty sure I missed a couple lines of dialogue just thinking about it.

CONS

The movie never really goes anywhere. It has an interesting beginning, an exciting middle, and an abrupt ending. It just left too many loose ends. I honestly think they could have added at least 10-15 min.

The movie always tells and never shows, which is one of the deadly cinema sins. You have to listen to the dialogue to get anything out of the movie, while it is great dialogue, it just slows the flow of the film to a halt.

CONCLUSION

I was really enjoying this film, until that ending. It ends so abruptly and weirdly that it left me hanging. It also has such a good, well thought-out back-story, but never does anything with the present. It just never did anything for me. You may like it, or I may have to watch again, either way it's a good movie with too much lost potential. Please, if I'm missing something about the movie, tell me. 

RATING

RENTABLE