damnedcat777

This film is a whole lotta great scenery, and a thin plot. But the biggest let down is the total lack of any resolution at the end, at all. Now it can be told (in Ed Zwick's wonderful book on his career in film) Rbt Redford, upon seeing himself in old man makeup for the final scenes, refused to shoot the ending. So instead, they were left fading out to that insipid theme song. All just dumb dumb dumb. There was a period in Redford's life where they would've shot paint drying if his name was involved. This is a film from that period. Film is a collaborative effort, and an actor doesn't write his own scripts 98% of the time. This is a hearty tug at your wallet to see a young RR mess around in a beard. Nothing more. Pass on this one. It's not worth the time it takes to track down the dvd. Your time wou,d be better spent watching any number of GOOD Rbt Redford films. But this ain't one of them.

Now then; Ed Zwick's book, "Hits, Flops, and Other Illusions: my 40 something years in Hollywood" is a wonderful love letter to film. His fingers have been in some of the best films of his generation. He started in Television, on ThirtySomething and then My So-Called Life, both of which made a huge indelible mark on the viewing public. Both have had a huge effect on the direction of youth TV. I can't recommend the book enough. It's got great insight, facts, and enough gossip to keep any film buff entertained. His films are a list we all will recognize: Traffic, Glory, Shakespeare in Love... and it goes on and on and on and on....

In summation: pass on JJ., get the Ed Zwick book, take great care in spending any time in Rbt RedfordLand. He never was all that. Perhaps the best RR quip I read in Zwick's book was when Ed asked a certain director, who had recently made a film starring Rbt Redford, "What was it like to direct RR?" to which this certain director replied "I wouldn't know" - bc RR was so adamant that he be in charge of everything, he took no other direction form anyone else on set. And when he WAS given direction, it was immediately ignored, or worse, started a fight over it all. Yeah, that's RR alright...

Truly one of the best films ever made in this genre. I dare.you to only watch it once. I return to it every month, savoring moments. Like what does the two headed raccoon fetus in the jar mean, on the shelf, next to the metal plant hanging blade and that brass lock. WTF?! So many metaphors for redemption, compulsion, addiction, corruption... it's literally 100x better than that piece of trash "Pulp Fiction" (worst junkie impersonation on film EVER). WATCH THIS NOW!!! Then come back here and tell me I wasn't telling then truth. I love everything about this, but especially the writing. Makes me wet!