Thank you for this well-organized, thoughtful and astute discussion. I first saw this movie in the 1970s and have watched it a couple of times since. I must say, the final scene - when he turns to look around the room, with the stop action sequences - is by far the single most impactful scene I have ever experienced when watching a movie. Hard to put into words but I can say that it was like having reality compressed, loaded into a slingshot and then launched right into your face. Truly outstanding work by John Huston. Easily one of the top ten movies of all time. I will be subscribing to your channel. Thx, again.
I love your objective analysis of "Fat City". It is one of my favourite films and amazes me that the Academy was "reserved" in awarding it the accolades that it justly deserves. When it first came out, the advert was that this is the film that John Huston always wanted to make. Characterizations are superb. It should have been in black and white though.
Well done. Your assessment of the characters and dilemmas, I feel, are spot-on. When I first watched this movie, I had a difficult time relating to these characters. After all, Jeff Bridges had played the part of Sybil Shepherd's love interest in "The Last Picture Show," and Stacy Keech had played both serious and comedic parts in: "The New Centurions," and "The Traveling Executioner." However, I was much younger when I watched all of those movies, and I was living in the midwest. Later in life, as fate would have it, I found myself living in the city that was the setting of this story. Stockton, in the early 1970s, had undergone MASSIVE urban renewal. As a result, most of Stockton was gutted to make way for the construction of Interstate 5, and that was abundantly obvious upon reviewing this film. Nevertheless, Stockton's destruction served as a light motif in the film. After all, considering the director's illustrious past, this could have been John Huston's last film, and both the director as well as the characters, in this film, were--at least--moderately saturated with their own bacchanalian propensities. At any rate, "misery loves company," I feel, is an accurate, three word assessment of "Fat City." ...🤔, ("Fat,"/"Fight")?
@@moveablecanvas It was actually the construction of the crosstown freeway that connects the 5 to the 99. Sadly much of historic Manila town was demolished and was an unfinished project until the early 90s
Susan Tyrell got an Oscar nomination for supporting actress and Stacy Keach was considered for best actor at the New York Film Critics Awards. Your review was excellent!
Excellent film review. An extra layer on the final scene is that he discusses how the man serving coffee is just slowly heading to the drain. And he questions that mans complacency in it. I think that Sully sees the men gambling and realizes that he's just a cog in the gambling machine. The fact that he's a boxer doesn't really matter. They are both just part of card game for other people to wage their earnings on for little profit.
The book was written about life the 1950´s, before California became what it became by the 1970´s when the book was filmed. So it was a generation out of sync. But that was also the key to it´s grainy depth, like John Steinbeck´s Cannery Row.
I think Tully saw himself in Ernie. Maybe he thought he could help Ernie not make the same mistakes as he did by being his mentor, some sort of redeeming act he could feel good about, a way to heal the guilt/regret/anger he has for himself. Although alcohol and shame continued to handicap Tully. But as he fails he decides to hurt Ernie instead. Yet as he does he realizes he has no one else. I think alcoholism was a big character in this movie as well. Why we drink, but then how the drink ends up taking you over if you’re not careful. Relatable for so many people. I think Tully struggled with thinking he was cheated in life and “deserved” a certain success. But didn’t have the chops to cut it in the end, he doesn’t have the tools, he couldn’t find happiness and love. Ernie did. So many wonderful performances in this film. Quickly became high on my list. You don’t see many films like this anymore. Here and there. Love your review!
Excellent review overall. Bottom dwellers good term to describe the characters and their world. I call it to the working poor and the underbelly. My whole life I've been close to the spiraling to the life. Always a struggle. Your take on the ending is interesting. I've watched this film now for 40 yrs. I never noticed the assorted old men race. To me the characters world is full of diverse people. My take on the ending: When Tully turns around and does that classic "stare". He's seeing himself in years to come growing old in the underbelly. As you stated in your review "misery loves company". Tully wanting Ernie to stay and just reflect their environment they are in. Kristofferson's "Help Me Make It Through the Night"coming in for quick end credits speaks volumes to me. I agree this is not a boxing film. It's a gig never paying off. Just like the daily farm workers life. This film fits in perfectly into the writer Charles Bukowski. Recommend his poems and the classic novel Post Office 1971 and the film Barfly 1987. In conclusion I miss films like this gritty losers loners and drop outs of th early 70s. May I add please view the film Vanishing Point 1971 and Scarecrow 1973 and give your detailed review.
![ROSÉ(로제) - APT. (Band VER.) (With. 이영지) [더 시즌즈-이영지의 레인보우] | KBS 241129 방송](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/IW8qaemx74g/mqdefault.jpg)
Thank you for this well-organized, thoughtful and astute discussion. I first saw this movie in the 1970s and have watched it a couple of times since. I must say, the final scene - when he turns to look around the room, with the stop action sequences - is by far the single most impactful scene I have ever experienced when watching a movie. Hard to put into words but I can say that it was like having reality compressed, loaded into a slingshot and then launched right into your face. Truly outstanding work by John Huston. Easily one of the top ten movies of all time. I will be subscribing to your channel. Thx, again.
I love your objective analysis of "Fat City". It is one of my favourite films and amazes me that the Academy was "reserved" in awarding it the accolades that it justly deserves. When it first came out, the advert was that this is the film that John Huston always wanted to make.
Characterizations are superb.
It should have been in black and white though.
Well done.
Your assessment of the characters and dilemmas, I feel, are spot-on. When I first watched this movie, I had a difficult time relating to these characters. After all, Jeff Bridges had played the part of Sybil Shepherd's love interest in "The Last Picture Show," and Stacy Keech had played both serious and comedic parts in: "The New Centurions," and "The Traveling Executioner." However, I was much younger when I watched all of those movies, and I was living in the midwest. Later in life, as fate would have it, I found myself living in the city that was the setting of this story. Stockton, in the early 1970s, had undergone MASSIVE urban renewal. As a result, most of Stockton was gutted to make way for the construction of Interstate 5, and that was abundantly obvious upon reviewing this film. Nevertheless, Stockton's destruction served as a light motif in the film. After all, considering the director's illustrious past, this could have been John Huston's last film, and both the director as well as the characters, in this film, were--at least--moderately saturated with their own bacchanalian propensities. At any rate, "misery loves company," I feel, is an accurate, three word assessment of "Fat City."
...🤔, ("Fat,"/"Fight")?
Great point about the Interstate construction. That adds a whole different dimension to the tone of the film as well and gives it even more meaning.
@@moveablecanvas It was actually the construction of the crosstown freeway that connects the 5 to the 99. Sadly much of historic Manila town was demolished and was an unfinished project until the early 90s
What an awesome look into this film. I’m about to read the novel at the top of November. You’ve definitely earned my subscription.
Thank you. Let me know what you think of the novel. I'm interested to read it now myself.
That’s a very thoughtful review Sir.
Thank you.
Thanks Steve!
Susan Tyrell got an Oscar nomination for supporting actress and Stacy Keach was considered for best actor at the New York Film Critics Awards. Your review was excellent!
Excellent film review.
An extra layer on the final scene is that he discusses how the man serving coffee is just slowly heading to the drain. And he questions that mans complacency in it.
I think that Sully sees the men gambling and realizes that he's just a cog in the gambling machine. The fact that he's a boxer doesn't really matter. They are both just part of card game for other people to wage their earnings on for little profit.
Appreciate your deep and poetic observations. Thank you.
" ... two David's with broken slingshots." Nice turn of phrase.
The book was written about life the 1950´s, before California became what it became by the 1970´s when the book was filmed. So it was a generation out of sync. But that was also the key to it´s grainy depth, like John Steinbeck´s Cannery Row.
Stockton!
Great review! I'm excited to finally watch this movie.
I think Tully saw himself in Ernie. Maybe he thought he could help Ernie not make the same mistakes as he did by being his mentor, some sort of redeeming act he could feel good about, a way to heal the guilt/regret/anger he has for himself. Although alcohol and shame continued to handicap Tully. But as he fails he decides to hurt Ernie instead. Yet as he does he realizes he has no one else. I think alcoholism was a big character in this movie as well. Why we drink, but then how the drink ends up taking you over if you’re not careful. Relatable for so many people. I think Tully struggled with thinking he was cheated in life and “deserved” a certain success. But didn’t have the chops to cut it in the end, he doesn’t have the tools, he couldn’t find happiness and love. Ernie did.
So many wonderful performances in this film. Quickly became high on my list. You don’t see many films like this anymore. Here and there.
Love your review!
Thanks for reviewing this forgotten masterpiece. I discovered it by way of Susan Tyrell's turn in John Waters' _Cry Baby._
She was really great in the film.
You should look up her interview with skip E lowe, it’s hilarious
Very insightful review ! U have a new subsriber 😊
Excellent review overall. Bottom dwellers good term to describe the characters and their world. I call it to the working poor and the underbelly. My whole life I've been close to the spiraling to the life. Always a struggle.
Your take on the ending is interesting. I've watched this film now for 40 yrs. I never noticed the assorted old men race. To me the characters world is full of diverse people.
My take on the ending: When Tully turns around and does that classic "stare". He's seeing himself in years to come growing old in the underbelly. As you stated in your review "misery loves company". Tully wanting Ernie to stay and just reflect their environment they are in. Kristofferson's "Help Me Make It Through the Night"coming in for quick end credits speaks volumes to me.
I agree this is not a boxing film. It's a gig never paying off. Just like the daily farm workers life.
This film fits in perfectly into the writer Charles Bukowski. Recommend his poems and the classic novel Post Office 1971 and the film Barfly 1987.
In conclusion I miss films like this gritty losers loners and drop outs of th early 70s.
May I add please view the film Vanishing Point 1971 and Scarecrow 1973 and give your detailed review.
Happy birthday to stacy on 2nd june yeh still my favourite
Great! movie! I have the Indicator UK release.
Absolutely love Susan tyrrell
good film susan tyrells very good in film feel that the others no so good she acted like a real bar fly
She was very authentic
Stacy is a guid actor
Watched early this year i like stacy hes sexy