Like many people, I've felt the sudden urge to explore all the Arnold Schwarzenegger movies I'd never seen (probably a quarantine inspired mission - thanks COVID-19), and wanted to start from the beginning. Hercules in New York was as bad as they say it is. Up next was Stay Hungry, for me. This one, I had never heard of in my life until I started doing some research, and was quite surprised when I noticed its existence. The cast made it sound incredibly intriguing.
Well, I've got to say, it stood out more than I expected. For one, it's immensely of it's own era - I haven't seen many movies that feel so 70's. From the aesthetics, to the topics, to vibes and the style of filmmaking. It's definitely a very floaty film, but I feel that it's a quality and it gives the movie it's own persona, which actually works quite well in this case. The first hour of the movie was quite strong, as it offered a sort of buddy-film vibe, honing in on a blossoming friendship between the characters portrayed by Bridges and Schwarzenegger. Sally Field played the type of we're used to seeing her play - almost always upset, almost always throwing a fit, and she does it well. I know it's not important to state this but I personally have never found her appealing or attractive, but she has a REALLY extraordinarily nice BACK, which you get a good look at in this. She did also provide quite a few laughs in this as her character is so realistically manic. My girlfriend also some of it and commented, "everyone in this is so ugly" - she has a point. Outside of the lead characters, most of the co-stars and extras in the film are much more "rough around the edges" than we are used to seeing in American cinema, and I think it adds A LOT of persona to the film as well. It was also quite refreshing to see Schwarzenegger playing a very realistic, very calm character who is also kind of a selfish, narcissistic douche. It's not often you get to see him play anything outside what is basically a cartoon character. It works in its own way, definitely.
The problem for me was the the movie completely switched tones in the last half hour to the point where I didn't even feel like I was watching the same movie anymore, and then it was just over. The ending felt mostly inconclusive and unsatisfying. It had a base-level "conclusion", but it didn't feel organic, and there were so many other details the plot that had built up the entire time and then were just left hanging. I haven't seen such an unsatisfying ending in quite some time. It's really too bad because through the first half this movie was really quite enjoyable and promising. Regardless, I suggest any interested party give this movie a chance. It's definitely a singular experience and a bit of anomaly in the timeline.
Well, I've got to say, it stood out more than I expected. For one, it's immensely of it's own era - I haven't seen many movies that feel so 70's. From the aesthetics, to the topics, to vibes and the style of filmmaking. It's definitely a very floaty film, but I feel that it's a quality and it gives the movie it's own persona, which actually works quite well in this case. The first hour of the movie was quite strong, as it offered a sort of buddy-film vibe, honing in on a blossoming friendship between the characters portrayed by Bridges and Schwarzenegger. Sally Field played the type of we're used to seeing her play - almost always upset, almost always throwing a fit, and she does it well. I know it's not important to state this but I personally have never found her appealing or attractive, but she has a REALLY extraordinarily nice BACK, which you get a good look at in this. She did also provide quite a few laughs in this as her character is so realistically manic. My girlfriend also some of it and commented, "everyone in this is so ugly" - she has a point. Outside of the lead characters, most of the co-stars and extras in the film are much more "rough around the edges" than we are used to seeing in American cinema, and I think it adds A LOT of persona to the film as well. It was also quite refreshing to see Schwarzenegger playing a very realistic, very calm character who is also kind of a selfish, narcissistic douche. It's not often you get to see him play anything outside what is basically a cartoon character. It works in its own way, definitely.
The problem for me was the the movie completely switched tones in the last half hour to the point where I didn't even feel like I was watching the same movie anymore, and then it was just over. The ending felt mostly inconclusive and unsatisfying. It had a base-level "conclusion", but it didn't feel organic, and there were so many other details the plot that had built up the entire time and then were just left hanging. I haven't seen such an unsatisfying ending in quite some time. It's really too bad because through the first half this movie was really quite enjoyable and promising. Regardless, I suggest any interested party give this movie a chance. It's definitely a singular experience and a bit of anomaly in the timeline.