Review of The Swimmer (1968) by Laura D — 06 Sep 2006

This movie, first off, reminded me of how much I enjoyed reading John Cheever stories in college. I was one of those students who could not stay away from the classroom- so I went year round. In the summer, I'd take two classes at a time, so I could, you know, "work" and "take a break." Anyway, one summer I took a class on the short story and wow! was it fucking fantastic. So many discoveries: Ambrose Bierce, Sandra Cisernos, Herman Melville, and of course, John Cheever. He sure is amazing.

This movie is set in the 60's-early 70's- a perfect, maybe the [i]only[/i] perfect time for the movie to be set in. Something about that time period in American history is SO weighed down and tired and dirty feeling, so used up and rotten, that this story is organically attached to it...

But I feel like the story suffers in that the film was [i]actually made[/i] in the 70's too- it's a wild ride, yes, but something about it tells you that it desperately at points just wants to be another film. Hum.

Burt Lancaster and the supporters are fine and dandy. It's depressing, so I may never watch it again. That is, unless my Elliot Smith/Radiohead weed smoking self-indulgent days make a glorious comeback.