I finally made time to see this movie, about 9 years after I told myself I would see it. This is a fine example of a movie that explores those feelings we have of failure, depression, angst, courage, hope, and contentment. I felt Paul Mazursky was spot on in capturing the feelings and scenery of what New York was like in the 1950's. Sure, I felt there was a little self-indulgence, ie. Larry Lapinsky's "award speech scene." This did not take away from experiencing the cast's emotional struggles to live love and succeed in Greenwich Village.
Lessons they learned then are still highly applicable today. Lenny Baker, as Larry Lapinsky, was brilliant. He seems to be able to relate to his dad more than his mom, Faye (Shelley Winters), who effortlessly works to cause him guilt and high-blood pressure in her quest to be a loving mother. Personally I love the scenes where his parents show up at his apartment party and he is annoyed, and also later where he and his father remain silent while his mom flies off the handle in his apartment, Larry's face with a slight smile as if to be just taking in all of the emotions of the thing: anger, frustration, and comedy.
The cast of aspiring artists and progressive thinkers beginning with Lenny Baker is awesome. Christopher Walken as Robert is very hip, suave, and smart. Do not think for a moment though that he steals the show. Dori Brenner as Connie, and Ellen Greene as Sara (Larry's girlfriend) are poised, beautiful, and compelling. They really convey what it is like to be young, in love, aspiring, poor, confused, depressed, and brave. See this movie.
Lessons they learned then are still highly applicable today. Lenny Baker, as Larry Lapinsky, was brilliant. He seems to be able to relate to his dad more than his mom, Faye (Shelley Winters), who effortlessly works to cause him guilt and high-blood pressure in her quest to be a loving mother. Personally I love the scenes where his parents show up at his apartment party and he is annoyed, and also later where he and his father remain silent while his mom flies off the handle in his apartment, Larry's face with a slight smile as if to be just taking in all of the emotions of the thing: anger, frustration, and comedy.
The cast of aspiring artists and progressive thinkers beginning with Lenny Baker is awesome. Christopher Walken as Robert is very hip, suave, and smart. Do not think for a moment though that he steals the show. Dori Brenner as Connie, and Ellen Greene as Sara (Larry's girlfriend) are poised, beautiful, and compelling. They really convey what it is like to be young, in love, aspiring, poor, confused, depressed, and brave. See this movie.