This is an at times sensitive, more often aimless examination of the problem all athletes (and a considerable number of non athletes) must face in their thirties and forties, namely, What Am I Going To Do With The Rest Of My Life? Perhaps borrowing too much from its aging quarterback protagonist, the film's pace is on the slow and lumbering side as there is simply too much of Charleton Heston wandering around New Orleans looking pained and troubled. Every so often he'll rouse himself to rough up a gay dress designer or be unfaithful to his wife but, for the most part, it's mid life angst twenty four, seven, with alarmingly little humor in David Moessinger's screenplay. And if there is a mid point between leasing cars or working in computers versus going out in a blaze of self destructiveness on the gridiron...say coaching, perhaps?... director Tom Gries and Moessinger do not seem interested in exploring what it might be.
Making the above, unengaging stuff at least semi palatable is location shooting in the Crescent City, almost always a plus, as well as several of the performances. Heston, as usual, is better than you think he'll be considering his reputation as a wooden, right wing ideologue. A previous reviewer said he's too unlikable. On the contrary, the fact that I actually found myself caring for this dyspeptic, homophobic old cob is a tribute to Heston's skill as an actor and the main reason to stick with this thing. Also good are Jessica Walter, in a sympathetic role for a change, as his intelligent, clear eyed, loving wife, John Randolph as a manipulative head coach, Roy Jensen as an ex player down on his luck and Richard Elkins as Heston's closest friend on the team. Bruce Dern, on the other hand, is uncharacteristically bland while Diana Muldaur is your standard, sexy love interest.
Bottom line: "North Dallas Forty" does it a lot better. C plus.
Making the above, unengaging stuff at least semi palatable is location shooting in the Crescent City, almost always a plus, as well as several of the performances. Heston, as usual, is better than you think he'll be considering his reputation as a wooden, right wing ideologue. A previous reviewer said he's too unlikable. On the contrary, the fact that I actually found myself caring for this dyspeptic, homophobic old cob is a tribute to Heston's skill as an actor and the main reason to stick with this thing. Also good are Jessica Walter, in a sympathetic role for a change, as his intelligent, clear eyed, loving wife, John Randolph as a manipulative head coach, Roy Jensen as an ex player down on his luck and Richard Elkins as Heston's closest friend on the team. Bruce Dern, on the other hand, is uncharacteristically bland while Diana Muldaur is your standard, sexy love interest.
Bottom line: "North Dallas Forty" does it a lot better. C plus.