MovieChat Forums > Harold and Maude (1971) Discussion > Meeeeeeeeeeh.

Meeeeeeeeeeh.

posted 8 years ago by M_Exchange
10 replies | jump to latest

Four of five years ago I saw this thing for the first time. I shut it down after maybe fifteen minutes.
I listen to a film podcast in which a guy raves about this movie. It's his second favorite film of all time.
So I thought, "maybe I misjudged it." Then, when I saw that there was a special screening for it here in L.A., I jumped on it.
An hour ago I survived it for thirty minutes then walked.
The kid has a punch-me face throughout the whole thing. Usually, if I can't rally behind the main character (even evil characters like Walt White) then the rest of the story is useless.
I'm the most avid fan of dark comedy you'll ever meet. But it grew very stale very quickly, and there was no redeeming quality about the kid. The old lady annoyed me a bit, too.
When I saw this thing several years ago it was at 8.2 (WHY?). I'm glad that it's probably going to plummet below 8 soon.



[–] DaveBowman2001 (517) 7 years ago

I thought it sucked and pretty much agree. I made it through, since it got such high praise, but I don't see what the big hoopla was. Just people who like to be "edgy" like this I think.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

A lot of films are like this, people rave about them and you think you should watch it only to find out that not only is it just an average film (if you are lucky) but often the film sucks dogs balls.

This films sucks big time. A lot of the time it is just people being pretentious inserting text and subtext into the film that isn't there or making more of a big deal about parts of it. Making a big deal about something that has nothing to do with the story.

Each to their own but I found the film boring.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

agreed

[–] melholden (96) 5 years ago

She showed a character who isn't afraid. Isn't afraid of the police, of dying, of pretty much anything it seemed. That's probably the main reason I like it so much. And I can relate more to Harold's resistance to the world, but she showed how embracing it enriches one's life. You saw an 'old' lady, I saw someone who says "YES!" to whatever life sends them.

[–] brux (14724) 5 years ago

That's what I don't get about this movie ... how can you relate to a character that is pure BS ... that is someone who "a character who isn't afraid. Isn't afraid of the police, of dying, of pretty much anything it seemed" ... that is nobody. I mean, if you were in Harold's world, do you think you would like him, or be able to relate to him or be friends with him, or that he would be interested in you?

[–] brux (14724) 5 years ago

Some people apparently like this movie. I don't really get why. Most of them do not explain what it is, they just like it. I think it is a kind of mass hysteria where some critical mass of people are present who say they like it, and then other people say they like it because they think it is the cool thing to do. Like I said, I don't understand it. Parts of it were filmed down the street from where I live ... though long before I moved here. Even the old home town spirit doesn't budge me on this movie. It is pointless, not very funny. I don't care if people like it, I just don't understand why.

[–] LeWildPlatypus (768) 5 years ago

I don't just like it, I love it and that's because I connect with it. I like that Harold is this misanthrope who doesn't connect with people his own age, I adore the music by Cat Stevens and the murky 1970's atmosphere which makes me feel nostalgic for an era I never knew. It's a very simplistic production with no cheesy jokes, loud characters and free of all the usual cliches. I don't think a movie like this could be made today.

It's a 10/10 for me.

[–] brux (14724) 5 years ago

We can agree on the Cat Stevens music, that album, Mona Bone Jakon, is his best album.

You mentioned cheesy jokes, but what about the General with the saluting arm ... that was as cheesy and stupid as it gets, and the constant fake suicides ... pure cheese. Well, someone has got to like cheese I suppose! I got a kick out of that some of the scenes were filmed in Palo Alto. The church is right down the street from me, and there was a part going across the old Dumbarton bridge. This sure is not the same town it was back then, that is for sure.

You should check out a movie called "Chilly Scenes Of Winter". It has a similar vibe, but more serious and actually has something to say about life and relationships.

[–] LeWildPlatypus (768) 5 years ago

It's all relative I guess because for me those moments were humourous and a bit silly but not cheesy (but can't go wrong a bit of Edam), the staged suicides were OTT but I wasn't rolling my eyes like if it were a bad pun.

Another thing I like about the film is the sense of Britishness to it even though the production as we know is purely American, the overall scale and muted colours of the countryside made me think of Ken Loach (Kes) or a Bill Forsyth film. It's a fairytale in a sense.

That's very interesting that you live so close to where they shot scenes in the film, we ought to switch places for a day so I can check those out! I'm surprised there aren't more retrospectives about director Hal Ashby, we did get a documentary last year which I assume is streaming only.

Thanks for the film recommendation, researching it as we speak.

[–] brux (14724) 5 years ago

That movie is the most perfect movie in terms of the characters, the flow of the plot, the intensity of emotion, the direction ... Chilly Scenes of Winter ... also shows the life cycle of a relationship, and it came out right after I broke up with a former girlfriend. I could recognize the crazy in me in Charles, played by the late John Heard. This was written by a woman, and I was so amazed that she would have so much insight into the male mind ... and all the while the story is heartwarming and comedic. Every little aspect of that movie fits together like a puzzle and is perfect.

Oh, by the way, it is on You-Tube for free right now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHxpkkmVyhA

It's even in hi-res. It used to be in 240p resolution, very fuzzy.

Oh, and also the famous actress Gloria Graham is in the movie as Charles' mother who is great ... all the performances are so good!