Jack Nicholson is one of those actors who portrays Jack Nicholson being an actor playing a role. That's not meant to be disparaging at all. I mean that Jack imbues almost every character I've seen him play from The Shooting (1967) through to The Departed (2007) with the same zest and zing. The man is simply tireless and timeless, almost, and a joy to watch always.
I missed this film when it was first released. And I kept missing it every time I saw it advertised at a local classic cinema or on late night TV. Finally, I got one of my sons to send me a copy he had.
As stories go, it's not that engaging, being simply about the transportation of a young prisoner to a military prison. What carries this story however are the characters, the quality of acting of the 'three amigos', shall I say, and the script by Robert Towne. The production is good, the editing a bit choppy I'd say, but the direction from Hal Ashby is always sure. The filming was done on location and, by the looks of it, with very few frills and, considering the nature of the journey, very few thrills of the type viewers today expect to see. But, that doesn't matter.
I first saw Randy Quaid in The Last Picture Show (1971) and had been impressed by his ability even then. In this film, he does an even better job, as Larry Meadows, the quintessential, home-spun, good-natured, rural hick who knows very little about the world beyond hamburgers, milkshakes, apple pie and Mom. So, when he begins his journey to prison escorted by two rough-as-rails naval ratings, Bad Ass Budusky (Nicholson) and Mule Mulhall (Otis Young) both detailed for the job against their wishes, of course he's given a chance to experience some of life's pleasures before being incarcerated.
So, it's an ordinary story, but enlivened by the antics of the two older men, particularly Buddusky, who think nothing of having some fun beating up some Army personnel in the john at a railway station with the help of Larry and Mule, of course. Together, they drink lots of booze. They visit a Hari Krishna type sect to witness and listen to the chanting. They drink more booze. They try to get a drink at a bar where Bad Ass threatens to shoot the bartender who refuses to serve them. They buy more cans, and get another hotel room at the next whistle stop. They take Larry to a whore, where he finally does it. They have a picnic in the freezing rain. Then, they finally get Larry to the prison and hand him over to the "grunts" as Bad Ass calls the Marines. He hates grunts with a passion.
Why do the two old-timers do all this for the young guy? Why didn't they just get the job done and get back to base ASAP? Could've done it in two days, but they take five? They do it because the young fella has been shafted, royally: he's going down for 8 years for stealing (or trying to steal, actually) forty dollars. Forty lousy bucks! They can't believe it. But, that's the Navy. That's the system they're dealing with, day in, day out. They can't change it, but they can sure as hell help to bring some change into Larry's life before he's ruined or worse, killed - by prison life.
Call it guilt, call it anger, call it frustration but they both had to do something to make Larry feel better, and more importantly, to make themselves feel better about having to take him to his premature doom, so to speak, which is ably illustrated by an icily cold reception from the Marine O.D. (Michael Moriarty) at the prison. Moriarty always does bad guys so well, especially when they all realize the irony of the overlooked last detail of their mission...
So, the final scene of Bad Ass and Mule leaving the prison and walking away is exquisite their anger and frustration now red-hot, hunkering down against the frigid wind, their images fade as they round a corner, almost running they're walking so quickly, not looking back, but the memory lingers on...
Recommended for all except young children.
I missed this film when it was first released. And I kept missing it every time I saw it advertised at a local classic cinema or on late night TV. Finally, I got one of my sons to send me a copy he had.
As stories go, it's not that engaging, being simply about the transportation of a young prisoner to a military prison. What carries this story however are the characters, the quality of acting of the 'three amigos', shall I say, and the script by Robert Towne. The production is good, the editing a bit choppy I'd say, but the direction from Hal Ashby is always sure. The filming was done on location and, by the looks of it, with very few frills and, considering the nature of the journey, very few thrills of the type viewers today expect to see. But, that doesn't matter.
I first saw Randy Quaid in The Last Picture Show (1971) and had been impressed by his ability even then. In this film, he does an even better job, as Larry Meadows, the quintessential, home-spun, good-natured, rural hick who knows very little about the world beyond hamburgers, milkshakes, apple pie and Mom. So, when he begins his journey to prison escorted by two rough-as-rails naval ratings, Bad Ass Budusky (Nicholson) and Mule Mulhall (Otis Young) both detailed for the job against their wishes, of course he's given a chance to experience some of life's pleasures before being incarcerated.
So, it's an ordinary story, but enlivened by the antics of the two older men, particularly Buddusky, who think nothing of having some fun beating up some Army personnel in the john at a railway station with the help of Larry and Mule, of course. Together, they drink lots of booze. They visit a Hari Krishna type sect to witness and listen to the chanting. They drink more booze. They try to get a drink at a bar where Bad Ass threatens to shoot the bartender who refuses to serve them. They buy more cans, and get another hotel room at the next whistle stop. They take Larry to a whore, where he finally does it. They have a picnic in the freezing rain. Then, they finally get Larry to the prison and hand him over to the "grunts" as Bad Ass calls the Marines. He hates grunts with a passion.
Why do the two old-timers do all this for the young guy? Why didn't they just get the job done and get back to base ASAP? Could've done it in two days, but they take five? They do it because the young fella has been shafted, royally: he's going down for 8 years for stealing (or trying to steal, actually) forty dollars. Forty lousy bucks! They can't believe it. But, that's the Navy. That's the system they're dealing with, day in, day out. They can't change it, but they can sure as hell help to bring some change into Larry's life before he's ruined or worse, killed - by prison life.
Call it guilt, call it anger, call it frustration but they both had to do something to make Larry feel better, and more importantly, to make themselves feel better about having to take him to his premature doom, so to speak, which is ably illustrated by an icily cold reception from the Marine O.D. (Michael Moriarty) at the prison. Moriarty always does bad guys so well, especially when they all realize the irony of the overlooked last detail of their mission...
So, the final scene of Bad Ass and Mule leaving the prison and walking away is exquisite their anger and frustration now red-hot, hunkering down against the frigid wind, their images fade as they round a corner, almost running they're walking so quickly, not looking back, but the memory lingers on...
Recommended for all except young children.