Atlantic City

This review is an excerpt from my book “Killer B’s: The 237 Best Movies On Video You’ve (Probably) Never Seen,” which is available as an ebook on iBooks. If you enjoy this review, there are 236 more like it in the book (plus a whole lot more). Check it out! ATLANTIC CITY: Ever get the feeling they’re tearing down your past? Lou Pasco (Lancaster) does. He lives in delusions not of grandeur, but of a grand past, glorying in his alleged glory days. Demolition and construction, in an unceasing cycle, is the theme of this special film; demolition and construction of landmarks and of lives, the literal merely mirroring the inner rhythms of the restless characters. Lancaster’s Lou is dapper but trapped in the past; to him, Sally (Sarandon) is “a regular Princess Grace,” attempting to deal her way into a Monte Carlo casino. Her hunger for wisdom and his chance for rejuvenation lead them into a May/December romance as tender and as curious as it is bittersweet. The film starts out slowly, but picks up momentum exponentially, both in action and character development. And, in a final irony, everybody gets exactly what they wanted—whether they knew what they wanted or not. As Lou Pasco would say, they just don’t make ‘em like this anymore.

I had never even heard of this film until reading about it in a list of best movies of the 70's, took a chance based on all the positive reviews, and enjoyed every minute of it! Amazing casting and atmospherics. I was surprised at how technically sloppy the film was though: Color is just plain rancid and sound uneven. However, it more than makes up for these shortcomings with sheer escapism of watching fascinating characters, acting, and brilliant script unfold. If you liked Pretty Baby (another by Malle) you will love this one too.

Since you're an idiot, it makes sense that you haven't heard of this movie.