Review of Night Moves (1975) by Private U — 12 Feb 2008
Watching Night Moves is like walking into an abandoned house, turning on the lights and watching cockroaches scurry about. Every character, no matter how innocent they sound, is guilty of something. Gene Hackman plays Harry Moseby, a private investigator hired by a burned-out Hollywood actress to track down her runaway daughter, played by Melanie Griffith. Much like Jake Gittes in Chinatown, Hackman's Moseby gets tangled up in a scenario more and more confusing as he digs wades deeper and deeper into the lifestyles of the slimy suspects and so-called "friends.".
It's easy to compare Night Moves with Chinatown, Roman Polanski's classic released a year earlier. However, while the latter was intended to be mere homage to a nearly-forgotten genre, the former is not. Chinatown takes place in the 1930's, while Night Moves is set in modern times (the 1970's in this case). However, Night Moves proves to be a darker, more disturbing film. First-rate acting, writing, and directing hold this movie together. It may take more than a simple glance, but is unforgettable viewing.
This review of Night Moves (1975) was written by Private U on 12 Feb 2008.
Night Moves has generally received positive reviews.
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