There ain't much to say about this obscure flick. Flat direction, stiff camerawork, horrendous lighting, effortless editing, outdated soundtrack and been-there-done-that script. George Segal delivers a fine performance, and it was interesting seeing him in a purely dramatic role after getting used to seeing him on "Just Shoot Me." He basically carries the film, but even he can't save it entirely. And for anybody who finds the DeNiro boxed set with this movie and "Sam's Song,"--buyer beware!! You'll probably get the set for a cheap price, but when I see two videos with the name "DeNiro" plastered across the front of the box, along with a picture of his face, I wanna see two DeNiro movies. DeNiro has a very small role in "Born to Win" as a cop. It is perhaps his worst role up-to-date--and it's kind of ironic, being that I just saw "City By the Sea" and regarded that as one of his best roles up-to-date. So for all you die-hard DeNiro fans--like me--don't get sucked in. Karen Black also delivers a fine performance. Even Hector Elizondo gives a fine early performance. So basically I have to give it up for the cast for giving their all, despite a sub-par script. Like most micro-budget flicks of the 60's and 70's, the resolution is unbelievably grainy and it feels more like a home movie than a motion picture. Even independent films of recent years (including Kevin Smith's "Clerks" which was made on a very, very low budget) have at least a slightly cinematic quality to them. I wouldn't be surprised if I find "Born to Win" playing on the Late Night Movie around 3 in the morning. It has its moments, like Segal running around New York City in a pink dress (hilarious!!), but not enough to make it even an OK movie.
My score: 4 (out of 10)
My score: 4 (out of 10)