As I watched Peter Bogdanovich's film, Saint Jack (waiting for something to happen), three words came to mind: pretentious, tedious and dumb. Not once did I find myself caring a bit for the main character, Jack Flowers. I didn't really like him or dislike him. There was no detectable plot. The female characters were powerless cliches whose acting (?) was painful to experience. Ben Gazzara couldn't have been more impassive. I suppose that's how PB directed him to act, though.
On the positive side, the shot framing and scenes of old Singapore were very good. I feel like an outlier her, after reading all the glowing reviews. I guess it's like any other work of art - you either get it or you don't. I like other auteur directors: Fellini, David Lynch. I just don't get Bogdanovich.
I don't normally post reviews, but I decided that all of the positive reviews needed some balancing. I did enjoy Ben Gazzara in his Run For Your Life TV series ... even though it was a thinly-veiled rip-off of The Fugitive. But I guess if you're going to copy a show it might as well be one of the best dramas in TV history.
For Peter Bogdanovich fans, TCM is about to begin a Bogdanovich podcast featuring him interviewing notable living and dead directors, as well as commentary by and interviews with Bogdanovich.
Review of Saint Jack
