I think Bernie probably saw this film. Two toughs terrorize a subway car until one person on the train, with no real interest in the situation and a handicap, stands up to fight them.
Someone said Martin Sheen had a great performance here - ?? Most of what he did was stand around and say "yeah baby" like his SNL appearance in the "Martin Sheen" hair product commercial. "You wouldn't hurt the environment, would you Martin?" "No way, baby".
Anyway, Tony Musante needs the credit because he's who makes the punks impossible to ignore and possibly dangerous enough to be feared. Some tough subjects for '67, homosexuality (watch how that guy acts in the bar again after you see this movie, or since you know about it it might be more obvious to you than it was to me at that point), race-baiting (I agree with Ebert's review that the black character's change of heart was more than ridiculous, he would have pulled a Jules Winnfield on them just to watch Whitey's expression change).
Still, very intense and well done, wish they showed this in high schools to lead discussions about who is (and should be) responsible for what in society. Yes, the characters are straight off the American Archetype Pez Dispenser, but they're -supposed- to be; they're placeholders for us to project our own feelings, not independent agents.
Someone said Martin Sheen had a great performance here - ?? Most of what he did was stand around and say "yeah baby" like his SNL appearance in the "Martin Sheen" hair product commercial. "You wouldn't hurt the environment, would you Martin?" "No way, baby".
Anyway, Tony Musante needs the credit because he's who makes the punks impossible to ignore and possibly dangerous enough to be feared. Some tough subjects for '67, homosexuality (watch how that guy acts in the bar again after you see this movie, or since you know about it it might be more obvious to you than it was to me at that point), race-baiting (I agree with Ebert's review that the black character's change of heart was more than ridiculous, he would have pulled a Jules Winnfield on them just to watch Whitey's expression change).
Still, very intense and well done, wish they showed this in high schools to lead discussions about who is (and should be) responsible for what in society. Yes, the characters are straight off the American Archetype Pez Dispenser, but they're -supposed- to be; they're placeholders for us to project our own feelings, not independent agents.