Synopsis
Brooks Wilson (George Segal) is a professional illustrator. His career is muddling along, butwill take a giant leap forward if he can land Sterling Hayden as a client. His marriage with EvaMarie Saint is closing in on some dangerous shoals, and the same is true of his affair with JanisYoung. His life is very close to spinning out of his control, and over the course of the film, thatis exactly what happens. Ignore the case, which refers to Loving as “a shattering tale of roman…icintrigue” and “a devastating drama” (not to mention the meaningless slogans, such as “Trust WasSomething She Took for Granted”). In fact, this is a comedy of manners. You won’t be laughingout loud (except perhaps at the climax); the humour lies more in dry wit and wry observation,and the film is very clearly from 1969. The closest thing in tone that has been produced recentlyis The Ice Storm, which is itself a conscious throwback.
Audio
A mono soundtrack. The music is clean, and the sound design is not terribly layered, so thestereo isn’t missed. The sound quality generally isn’t terrific, though. The dialogue does distorton numerous occasions. Let’s just say that the rather gritty sound matches the rather grittyvisuals.
Video
Presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, the picture is a bit grainy, but said gritty lookis also a very common, deliberate feature of many film as we leave the 60s and enter the 70s. Thecolours are strong and warm when they should be, and there are (brief) moments where they areas powerful as they are sudden (notably the reds of the children’s drawings in the schoolsequence). The blacks could be deeper, and here tend to be a bit muddy. The picture is also softerthan you would be used to in a more recent release.
Special Features
The menu is basic, and the only extras are trailers for Fun with Dick and Jane, For Pete’sSake, and Husbands & Wives.
Closing Thoughts
George Segal’s career appears to have disappeared with the end of the 70s, but he was oncea big name, and this is one of his more celebrated films.
Special Features List
- Trailers
