Film Review - The long goodbye is not the average thriller

Slogan: "Nothing like a shot of separation."

When I hear the name Elliott Gould, get the "thugs" do not immediately spring to mind. No, I tend to think of his roles in films like MASH, Ocean's Eleven and Capricorn. So imagine my surprise when I learned that he had played the quintessential detective Philip Marlowe in the 1973 movie titled "The Long Goodbye. Visions Bogey started dancing in my head and I had to look at this.

Trigger Finger

But before entering thegory details, let the plot synopsis of the road required. The film is dense in California in 1970, as Philip Marlowe (Gould) and make ends meet with the best private, that money can buy. As the opening credits finish rolling, falls on his old friend Terry Lennox (Jim Bouton) and eventually give a lift to Mexico. But what is the next day, Philip finds himself harassed by the police (Terry emerged seems dead wife) and a local crime boss, MartyAugustine (Mark Rydell), Terry, who has stolen a large sum of money to leave. And as Terry is no longer around, everyone seems happy to take their frustrations to Marlowe. Things get more complicated when Terry is a body to Mexico, Marlowe and takes a case of missing persons, with an alcoholic writer (Sterling Hayden), his beautiful young wife (Nina Van Pallandt) and a greedy psychiatrist (Henry Gibson believed ).

First, let me credit byThe director Robert Altman. The idea of Philip Marlowe, a detective in black and white background and surrounded by rabbit nude beach and relax in California is certainly bold. enough to work outside of mainstream Hollywood, to make things interesting - but again, this is always the Altman-style.

Does it work? Well, the answer is more complicated than you think. Although Goodbye has moments of brilliance, is often just a middle-of-the-roadCrime. Well developed for each scene, it seems to me a few mediocre and the plot seems to wander a bit 'mid-point. Without doubt, the opening scene with Marlowe and her cat to a thing of brightness and the pivotal moment of the film. It defines what Marlowe turns everything works fast and leaves the public, the meeting is not the usual thriller.

From his bedroom wall, with matches marked with slow beat on her, muttering to his execution commentrange of smoke and amazing (can potentially more cigarettes than any other character in film history), I immediately knew that it would be someone to take care of. Too bad it was mostly downhill the rest of the film fails to create strong expectations of the opener.

But do not blame Elliott Gould. It's a blast from start to finish the game with a philosophy Marlowe unexpected fold-not-break. I was expecting a-Boiled Detective with a solid right cross and a hard finger itching -. Instead, we have a much more realistic. He feels the pain. He's afraid. In all his courage, cunning, Gould's Marlowe is just like the rest of us.

Another advantage is that you play Marlowe's thoughts and feelings close to the vest. In essence, beyond the mundane moments in which the Hollywood star sits down and says his plan to the public. We do not know what's going on Marlowebecause it seems to not really know.

And do a lot of credit for that should Leigh Brackett, Raymond Chandler's novel and adapted to allow the script crackles with dialogue that is lively and eccentric characters, writer. Brackett is a veteran of the mythology of Chandler, who also co-wrote the screenplay for the 1946 production of The Big Sleep.

The soundtrack also goes a long way viewers beyond the fact that Goodbye is in its own contentUniverse. And in this world there's a song ... "The Long Goodbye." If the character is listening to the radio, piano practice, or just whistle a song that always follow us around (but in different ways) holds. see, is an intelligent device that I do not remember, a well-deserved pat on the back of someone can imagine.

There are many other reasons, such as Goodbye: A solid performance by Sterling Hayden as the author-as Hemingwayslight stature Henry Gibson plays against type, with memorable results show Mark Rydell Marty Augustine Marlowe, which makes everything he does not like (and does) has a guest role in a time unknown guy, Arnold Schwarzenegger and many others . shown in all the praise, you could easily be mistaken for a high-profile film Goodbye. But, like Marlowe meanders around, including most of the film.

The subplot with the author and his wife never reallyseems a lot together and are often feels forced, and the scenes with Henry Gibson played all right, never really make much sense. Perhaps the novel is closer to flesh things, but I felt as if something has been critical of the film left. Some viewers, especially expect a lot of fights and shootings, disappointed by the lack of action in the film. Marlowe speaks to people, and that's really all it does. As I said, this is aA different kind of thriller - one where the hero meets, rather than acts.

And then there's the end. I will not go into detail and ruin for you, but you get to think about is: (a.) There is a glossy finish that has added a new dimension Marlowe shares or (b) Marlowe ends were completely out of character and the film on a note acid. To be honest, I still flip between the two. But for what it's worth, Altman loved the script ends (which is differentBased on the novel) when he wrote in his contract that could not be changed during production or processing.

A masterpiece of cinema or a good idea that has never been fully implemented? I am leaning to the latter, but you have to watch and decide for yourself. Whatever your conclusion, it is likely that you will find something positive to say goodbye. And if you are not familiar with the work of Elliott Gould, you may find that you have discovered a newFavorite actor.

Film Review - The long goodbye is not the average thriller