Review of Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977) by Andrey B — 14 Jul 2016

I know this film is well regarded, garnering several Oscar nominations back in it's day and features a fine cast (Diane Keaton, Richard Gere, Tuesday Weld, William Atherton, LeVar Burton, Tom Berenger, and the film debut of Brian Dennehy.

) and an crew (written and directed by Richard Brooks and beautifully photographed by William A. Fraker), but I found it dates and rather preachy. Maybe it's continued it's good reputation since it's never been released on DVD or Blu-Ray, but after I wanted a recent airing of this film on TCM, I really was not that impressed.

The story follows the sexual awakening of a virginal teacher of deaf kids, Keaton, on what leads her down a road of what at first seems a positive road of independence but then goes downhill with drugs, alcohol, depression, arrests, abortions, and assorted debauchery.

It's not a bad film. Keaton gives a compelling performance, even if some scenes felt rather stagey, but I'll lay blame for that at the feet of writer/director Brooks. William Frakers photography is gorgeous.

I'm so glad that I got to see a fabulous HD version of this film on TCM. I also dug the 1970s soundtrack along with the film doing a very good job of capturing a time and place, making the film a fun time capsule to watch, filled with late 70s fashions, pick-up lingo, rotary dial phones, discotheque and bars.

Even though I think the politics of this film are questionable and the drama is rather trite and dates at times, this is a worthy movie to checkout for fans of Brooks and/or the cast.