Blabbing about: "The panic in Needle park(1971)"

Hello!

It's be so long since I last posted on this blog lol. Anyway, I would like to write a review for this wonderful(looking) film that I have not yet seen. This time I will write a before watching and after watched thingso it's a little different.

Ok so here I go!

Details about the film:



The panic in needle park (1971)Drama

Plot(from IMDb.com):This movie is a stark portrayal of life among a group of heroin addicts who hang out in "Needle Park" in New York City. Played against this setting is a low-key love story between Bobby, a young addict and small-time hustler, and Helen, a homeless girl who finds in her relationship with Bobby the stability she craves. She becomes addicted too, and life goes downhill for them both as their addiction deepens, eventually leading to a series of betrayals. But, in spite of it all, the relationship between Bobby and Helen endures.

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BEFORE THE FILM

I have to admit this, I think I am starting to get addicted to Al Pacino.
After viewing scarface, I HAD to watch another Al Pacino film.
And, I decided to watch this for a few reasons.

Ok, It's not that I don't like romance films.
I just always get annoyed of the heroine. A lot.
And I also get tired of all the cliches. There a a few romance themed films
I absolutely love, but I dislike most. I don't really know why.
I'm just really picky I guess.

So..... I went on IMDb and read the brief plot and it kind of hit me somewhere.
I want to watch a heart breaking romance between young Al Pacino and the poor
homeless girl(I don't know anything about this film really but I'm guessing this is correct, right? lol)

I REALLY, REALLY want to love this film.
I want this film to be one of the best romantic films I have seen(well, at least this year.)
lol I really am expecting so much aren't I... maybe this is bad. oops.

But seriously, look at the poster. The tagline "God help Bobby and Helen. They're in love
in needle park" makes me really want to watch it!
Oh man.... I really hope I can enjoy this film...
I hope I don't get pissed of at the heroine...GOD HELP ME (lol)
(Oh my god every time I try to spell "heroine" I always type heroin)

So what I expect to see in this film is a very sad, tender romance between
Bobby and Helen that will tear my heart out.
And I hope I can love Helen. So I can love the whole film.

Oh yeah and I don't really like the title of this film.... It doesn't sound too
appealing to me. If I just heard the title somewhere I would never bothered to even
search about it, seriously.
And by the way, the Japanese title of this film "哀しみの街角" translates to
"The street corner of sadness". I actually like that title better lol. Just talking about the title ok....

AFTER THE FILM:



(My favorite scene)

Ok, it has been a few days since I finished viewing this film actually but I'll
write the review now!

To be honest, yes... I was kind of disappointed. Maybe I just expected too much.
But besides that, the film was extremely noir raw and I thought it was fantastic.
The drugs, constant smoking/drinking, prostitution... there was nothing glamorous
about anything and thats what made the film so bold.

This film took me so much time to finish even though its a relatively short/normal
length film. I think that it's just because it was so dark and heavy.
(The no soundtrack was extremely effective)

So to be honest, no I didn't really enjoy.... well....enjoy is a strange word isn't it.
I mean, I don't think this is a film that most people can enjoy since the whole
film has a very quiet and dark atmosphere and the story is very slow paced.
It wasn't a film that you can necessary enjoy viewing but it was great watching
a nice 70's film with young Al Pacino!

So in conclusion, I thought this film was great on it's own but It's not the type of  film
that I personally like. What I thought was great about this film was that
everything was so realistic. Like, there was no Hollywood glamour or movie
cliches or stereotypes. For example, the ending when Bobby gets out of
prison, there is no dramatic reunion where "the girl runs up to the guy crying, shouting his name
and jumps onto him and they kiss and the movie ends"(lol).
It was just so casual, so real.


"In the dark corner of the city, they found light"

(I think the taglines are pretty amazing.
ahh...70's taglines.)

Bye bye!