Carny un corpo per due uomini

If this didn't feature Gary Busey or Jodie Foster in it then this could easily be classed as an avant garde film. There is virtually no plot, just a cascade of freaks, fights and sex scenes. I'm not sure if it's any good - it seems unsure whether it wants to be arty or straight forward - but it's certainly interesting. Worth a look.

Carny is an interesting low-key film. It doesn't really have much of a plot. It works far more on atmosphere. The story is about a direction-less teenage girl (Jodie Foster) who runs away with the carnival after she meets a clown there. This leads to some friction between the manager and the clown; while later the carnies have to deal with some vicious local officials. As I say, it's not really much of a story and in order to appreciate Carny you need to find something in the feel of the movie.

I guess you could describe the set-up as a love triangle but only to a certain extent, as there really isn't a lot of emotion invested in the romantic side of the story; at the same time, there is a thriller element introduced towards the end and while that was quite good fun, it doesn't really fit all that well and could easily have been omitted. But as I say, the film still makes a mark and that is probably a result of the gritty recreation of carnival life and the good performances underpinning it. Best of the actors is Gary Busey who steals the show in his role as the abusive clown; moreover, the film begins very memorably with close-ups of him applying his clown make-up like it was war paint. In a sense it is, as he is extremely confrontational and goads his audience into throwing balls at him in sheer anger. In fact, the film depicts the carnies in general as primarily fuelled by a desire to fleece whoever enters their lair as they travel from town to town.

Carny is an interesting character-driven mood piece. It definitely falls into the cult movie side of the spectrum, as its unusual setting and dynamics will always mean it'll not appeal to everyone but will definitely connect with quite a few who are lured in to sample its wares.

"Carny" doesn't really feature exemplary storytelling, but it's still a striking look into a world to which many of us are not privy. That would be the behind-the-scenes dealings in travelling carnivals. With story credit going to co-star Robbie Robertson - member of The Band and a real life former carny himself - director Robert Kaylor and Kaylors' wife Phoebe, it's an amazing display of sights and sounds in this sometimes seamy environment. Ultimately, the heaviest asset is the incredible atmosphere that Kaylor and his crew create.

Gary Busey and Robertson are front and centre as members of this carnival troupe. Busey is a clown who sits in a dunk tank and taunts passers by. Into their lives comes a sexy teenager, Donna (Jodie Foster), who's tired of her humdrum small town existence and job as a waitress. So she joins them on the road, becoming part of their "family". Busey is very welcoming, but Robertson has his misgivings about her presence.

There's a wonderful, star studded cast here, although some of the actors inevitably end up rather under utilized. Among them are Meg Foster, Kenneth McMillan, Elisha Cook Jr. (in one of his best latter day roles), Tim Thomerson, Teddy Wilson, Bert Remsen, Craig Wasson, Robert DoQui, and Fred Ward. Bill McKinney and John Lehne are perfectly hate worthy as a shady businessman and his henchman who cause problems for our heroes. (Not content to rely on actual law enforcement, Busey, Robertson and company enact their own form of justice.) Busey is very likable, in one of his better film roles, and Foster very appealing. Robertson, of course, looks completely at home.

The production design (by William J. Cassidy) and cinematography (by Harry Stradling Jr.) are first rate, and this film also makes use of some real sideshow attractions. The tale actually gets a little twisted towards the end; coupled with some profanity and some T & A, "Carny" does earn its R rating. It also has an excellent music score by Alex North.

Overall, an interesting film worthy of discovery or re-discovery.

Eight out of 10.

I have been trying to see 'Carny' for quite some time, and I finally stumbled across an old video tape of it. I don't know if it is now available on DVD, but if not, it should be. It was released at the beginning of the 1980s but is very much a 1970s movie, and fans of that decade will appreciate it. It's very low key and character driven, and nothing all that much happens, but the acting is strong from the three leads - Gary Busey, who has been wasted in bad movies for many years, Jodie Foster in the transitional period from child to adult star, and the biggest surprise of all Robbie Robertson, guitarist and main songwriter with legendary rock'n'rollers The Band. On top of that the supporting cast features an incredible array of character actors that's hard to beat - Elisha Cook Jr, Tim Thomerson, Kenneth McMillan, Meg Foster, Tim Thomerson, Bill McKinney, Bert Remsen, Fred Ward, Woodrow Parfrey and Craig Wasson, the star of Brian De Palma's 'Body Double', just to name the most obvious ones. 'Carny' is an overlooked gem, and deserves some more attention. I really enjoyed it.

Frankie (Gary Busey) and Patch (Robbie Robertson of The Band) are two carnival hustlers traveling from town to town in the South. In one spot Frankie picks up Donna (Jodie Foster), an 18-year old who literally runs away with the circus. Naturally, things tense up between Frankie and Patch as Donna tries to learn the carny lifestyle. Man, back in the day one could make a movie about the life of carnival workers and it didn't have to be profound or condescending. CARNY just tells it like it is, showcasing the carnival folk and their life. What is so interesting about the film (outside of Busey's maniac performance) is how Robert Kaylor deviates from expectations. One would expect Busey and Robertson to fight over who gets the girl but they don't. Instead, they act normal as Foster is the one who gets emotional over it. The supporting cast is incredible and features Tim Thomerson, Kenneth McMillan, Elisha Cook, Jr., Meg Foster and Teddy Wilson.