Review of The Panic in Needle Park (1971) by Richard C — 13 Apr 2007

The Panic In Needle Park and Midnight Cowboy were the first two films that whetted my appetite for late 1960s/early 1070s American cinema. What particularly fascinated me about these films were their unflinching portrayal of those in society who were living a grim existence amongst decaying landscapes and exploitative characters. Here the under-rated Jerry Schatzberg focuses on a fictional group of New York City heroin users and submerges you into their world of addicts, prostitutes and petty criminals.

Pacino (who was an unknown at the time) produces a fantastic performance as Bobby, a drug addict and small-time hustler who falls in love with the clean living but homeless Helen (Kitty Winn). The film follows their increasingly drug dependent relationship as it spirals towards the abyss.

One aspect of this film that sets in apart from contemporary works like "Trainspotting" is that relies purely on performances and a documentary style of filming rather than clever special effects and a popular soundtrack. Whilst Pacino is now a bona fide star in big budget productions, he produces here a stark and realistic performance of a habitual drug user. Unfortunately,.