Review of Straight Time (1978) by Brandon S — 18 Sep 2010

A fascinating character study of a hardcore career criminal, Max Dembo, Dustin Hoffman in one of his finest and most underrated performances. Dembo is a loser who rationalizes his psychotic behavior by a thief's code of honor.

After serving six years in prison he is release on parole, he attempts to go straight, and get regular employment. But his ball-busting, slimy parole officer, played superbly by veteran character actor M.

Emment Walsh, has driven him to the breaking point with his constant harassment, because of him Dembo soon ends up in jail again. When he gets out he takes revenge on the parole office by assaulting him and handcuffing him to a fence in the middle of a highway without his trousers.

This begins his downward spiral back towards a life of crime. Well-directed by Ulu Grosbard with outstanding supporting performances by Theresa Russell, Gary Busey, Harry Dean Stanton, and Kathy Bates.

An engrossing film. Highly Recommended.