I really can't understand all the negative reviews of Richard Brooks' 1985 film. Granted, it's not the very best film in his canon (that honor goes to "In Cold Blood"), but it's a realistic and challenging film that pulls no punches.
Ryan O'Neal turns in one of his very best performances as a reporter who goes undercover in the world of gambling but ends up becoming addicted to it as well. No, this is not a spoiler; if you're watching a film about gambling, how can you NOT expect the protagonist to not become an addict? He is ably supported by Catherine Hicks, who must surely be one of the most underrated actresses of the 80s (90's and present)
I've noticed that most people who hate this film have had similar complaints about Robert Altman's 1974 masterpiece "California Split". While that film had humor along with the expected suspense, Brooks' film is more about atmosphere than character or plot and it succeeds as exactly that. It is rather short (95 mins) compared with other Brooks pictures which often ran over 2 hours, but I've rarely seen such a short film absorb me as much as Fever Pitch did.
Sadly, the film is no longer on video. It was last distributed by Key Video (CBS/FOX sister label) after the film was disowned by MGM/UA, who had no clue as to how to market it (as a comedy!) MGM should take the opportunity to rerelease it as part of its' "Contemporary Classics" series. I really wish Richard Brooks was still alive to see that at least someone liked his final film.
Ryan O'Neal turns in one of his very best performances as a reporter who goes undercover in the world of gambling but ends up becoming addicted to it as well. No, this is not a spoiler; if you're watching a film about gambling, how can you NOT expect the protagonist to not become an addict? He is ably supported by Catherine Hicks, who must surely be one of the most underrated actresses of the 80s (90's and present)
I've noticed that most people who hate this film have had similar complaints about Robert Altman's 1974 masterpiece "California Split". While that film had humor along with the expected suspense, Brooks' film is more about atmosphere than character or plot and it succeeds as exactly that. It is rather short (95 mins) compared with other Brooks pictures which often ran over 2 hours, but I've rarely seen such a short film absorb me as much as Fever Pitch did.
Sadly, the film is no longer on video. It was last distributed by Key Video (CBS/FOX sister label) after the film was disowned by MGM/UA, who had no clue as to how to market it (as a comedy!) MGM should take the opportunity to rerelease it as part of its' "Contemporary Classics" series. I really wish Richard Brooks was still alive to see that at least someone liked his final film.