Review of The Last Picture Show (1971) by Patrick L — 29 Dec 2009

A very interesting film, Americana at its best, and quite an accomplishment considering this is only the second film by Peter Bogdanovich. Like "My Town", this film is a character driven period piece, like a western that is set in the 1950s rather than premodern America. I really like Cloris Leachman as a neglected wife who has an affair with a young male, she shines as a shy and closed off and apologetic woman who begins to flower again under the awkward intentions of the young student.

If this movie has any message, I took away this most of all: that men and women need to speak about their needs and desires in relationships otherwise they will flounder and be captive to their unfulfilled needs and desires. This picture shows the women, often all too captive to their unspoken needs and the domination of their less than sensitive men.

Although set in a very real Texas, none of us in the world can say that we are better or much better than these people for all our vaunted freedoms and assertiveness! I give this film a 10 out of 10 and yes, it is magnificent, all the more for it being shot in black and white film...