MovieChat Forums > Play Misty for Me (1971) Discussion > Outside of the idea, this movie is horri...

Outside of the idea, this movie is horrible

posted 11 years ago by seahawk3133
6 replies | jump to latest

I'm not sure if I have been jaded by watching some of the classics recently, but outside of the idea of the movie and Evelyn - this seemed like a very bad movie.
The acting was brutal especially Clint. His character made no sense especially when he attempted to have compassion on Evelyn. I didn't feel any sympathy toward his character and he seemed to urge her on even after she was clearly crazy. The last scene was really bad. Evelyn's death looked like a cartoon. The movie also seemed to lose focus in the middle. The sex scene and the concert scene were too long.

The positives were the idea which at the time was a great concept and how Evelyn was developed, which gave her a feel of being a real person with a true obsession. Problem is everything else was very weak.

I'm amazed this is at a 7.0.

[–] SimplemindedSociety 11 years ago

'His character made no sense especially when he attempted to have compassion on Evelyn. I didn't feel any sympathy toward his character
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He had compassion out of fear; she just slit her wrists in his bathroom. How can one not have compassion or feel something over that? If he had just left her at that moment, who knows what she would have done.
I know the ideal thing would be to call 911,but that wasn't the plot.

'and he seemed to urge her on even after she was clearly crazy'
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Urge her on? Didn't he tell her to "get lost"?
I didn't get she was "clearly" crazy from the beginning.

'The acting was brutal especially Clint'
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Clint was not the best actor. But what other acting was brutal?

'The movie also seemed to lose focus in the middle. The sex scene and the concert scene were too long'.
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Yes, I could pass on that too,except I think from a directorial standpoint it was showing how all is heavenly and peaceful--but Evelyn is watching from afar,which disrupts the tone that we just witnessed

[–] Itsamoomoo 11 years ago

You might feel differently in 50 years when you watch it again. It's part of life's great mysteries. I think it's a great film.

[–] Prismark10 10 years ago

The film is a classic.

Its that man again!!

[–] spookyrat1 10 years ago

...I have been...watching some of the classics recently but ...this seemed like a very bad movie.

As you noted yourself this is generally regarded as one of the classics, perhaps that's why it rates at 7.0.

The acting was brutal especially Clint.

It's Clint, but I still think he does D.J. Dave really well. Jessica Walter was really effective as the deranged Evelyn and you say her character was well developed.

His character made no sense ... and he seemed to urge her on even after she was clearly crazy.

I'm not sure how Dave made no sense to you, but I think Clint did quite well at showing Dave wasn't perfect and just didn't really know how to cope with her.

Evelyn's death looked like a cartoon.

It was shot 43 years ago and wasn't a big budget film. Yes, that was probably a dummy falling off the landing and it WAS Jessica Walter floating in the sea.! Even now I still find Evelyn's attacks...frightening.

The sex scene and the concert scene were too long.

The sex scene was great and demonstrated they really were meant for one another after going through a previously rocky period. You could have a point with the concert, but Clint clearly appreciated the opportunities afforded by the film to highlight aspects of the area in which he lives, so I feel we should cut the big guy a bit of slack. I've always felt the location scenery was quite stunning.

Problem is everything else was very weak.

What else is there? Very appropriate soundtrack IMO and fine direction from a debut director.

[–] moamg 8 years ago

Just watched it. Truly awful movie. Clint was gorgeous. California is beautiful. And that's all.

[–] JustGreg 8 years ago

What moamg said.