Review of The Day of the Locust (1975) by Robert C — 05 Apr 2009

Sadly, a mixed bag for what could have been a great, unforgettable film of the 70s. The story (or stories) deal with down and out characters living on the fringes of depression-era Hollywood. Here we have another film that seems to have a real classic somewhere inside of it - a great showcase of ensemble acting (Donald Sutherland's greatest performance?) beautifully shot, and featuring some really poignant moments (not to mention what is perhaps the most shocking, disturbing, question-raising, stomach-churning, slate-clearing, unexplainable movie climax of all time).

But the whole thing seems bogged down by a screenplay which seems confused by its characters and their motivations, so much so that we as an audience are never quite filled-in on what is truly going on or how we are supposed to feel.

That ambiguity works when a film is trying to make a larger statement but this one is very focused on its characters' smaller dramas or dilemmas, and when it comes down to it 'Day of the Locust' is underwriiten in some places, overwritten in others.

One is left with a film that feels detatched from its characters and then ultimately confused by what its trying to convey exactly.