Review of Remember My Name (1978) by Walter M — 24 Dec 2014

In "Remember My Name," Emily(Geraldine Chaplin) is new to Los Angeles. So, she starts by buying herself some clothes and finding an apartment where she asks Pike(Moses Gunn), the building manager, for some lamps. Next up is a job that she gets at a dollar store through knowing the mother of Mr. Nudd(Jeff Goldblum), the store's owner. All of which leaves her plenty of time to stalk Neil(Anthony Perkins), a construction worker, and his wife Barbara(Berry Berenson).

Alan Rudolph can be an especially exasperating director, considering his over reliance on mood to carry a movie. At least with "Remember My Name," there is a plot that should make a difference. But for the most part, the movie has an elliptical route to it, embracing the mystery instead. Which would be fine because it all makes perfect sense in the end. But only if this was all more compelling than simply watching a neat cast(including a young Alfre Woodard) do their thing. And then there's the whole Bulgarian earthquake thing playing in the background. At least the cool blues soundtrack is relevant.