Now that is a line I would like to have written.
There, daddy, do I get a gold star?
Yes, that is one of my favorite quotes from this masterpiece. What a great line, what a great film.
"Ya never know what ya don't know, ya know?"
Not just being contrary, but why do you think this film is so great. I'm about 2/3 through it and I can't believe that anyone would buy that Susan Sarandon would fall for this old creep. Burt Lancaster's acting is awful in this film. I saw trials of Nuremberg, excellent film. This really is escaping me why people think this is such a great film. Is it the lemons? Susan Sarandon when downhill but she is a great actress, even in this film.
Will re-post after the ending. I'm predicting that he gets killed from the coke dealers and she becomes a blackjack dealer and stays in Atlantic City possibly to help her sister raise her fatherless child. I'm also predicting that she somehow ends up with most of Burt's tainted money.
Did you tell LUKE..? Is THAT who you could tell??
Well that was slightly more interesting. Masterpiece though? Come on.
Major plot holes. How do mafia men that see the sister of the guy that stole a pound of coke from them, with a guy in a flashy suit and not ask HIM for the money? How do police and the casino owner not immediately say "Hey those two guys that were murdered were just in my casino and were trying to talk to that old guy w/ the broad we just fired who was screaming about drugs and money!"
How in a gambling town is there an empty street where no one would see or hear gunshots? How does anyone who watched this film, NOT expect the casino owners head to EXPLODE spontaneously when he's firing Susan Sarandon?? heeeee
Not a lot of closure on this film. Pregnant sister? Who the hell knows what happens to her? Innocent woman now an accessory for murder on the lam when she could turn herself in and honestly explain the whole story and be free to live without fear of being caught. Old man bound to be caught, bragging about his double murder wherever he goes. I realize this was made in 1980, but French Connection was made in 1970, Deer Hunter was 1978, Apocalypse Now was 1979. This is no masterpiece. This is an interesting period piece w/ Susan Sarandon topless (for about .3 seconds)
Did you tell LUKE..? Is THAT who you could tell??
How do police and the casino owner not immediately say "Hey those two guys that were murdered were just in my casino and were trying to talk to that old guy w/ the broad we just fired who was screaming about drugs and money!"
Not a lot of closure on this film. Pregnant sister? Who the hell knows what happens to her?
How in a gambling town is there an empty street where no one would see or hear gunshots?
I didn't say anything about this film being a masterpiece in my OP. I merely cited a line that I thought was very memorable.
There, daddy, do I get a gold star?
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"As a slice of history, frozen in time, granted, it sure is"
BINGO!
I pretty much said the same thing in another post. They couldn't have picked a better time to film it. Perfect backdrop for the story.
"You Should Have Seen the Atlantic Ocean Back Then"
I actually missed that classic line the first time I saw the film. Guess I was just too young and dumb at the time but I agree, it is a classic line.
"How in a gambling town is there an empty street where no one would see or hear gunshots?"
AC is a rather unique town. Most of the "action" happens on the boardwalk or within a block of it. If I recall, the shooting took place several blocks from there and AC can be a very desolate place in other areas.
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I personally define a period piece as a movie in which if you changed the time of when it took place than the story as a result would also drastically change, so I contest that the argument stands that films set in a contemporary setting could still qualify.
I'm not so sure this one does qualify as that - I believe that the real heart of the story is in the characters as well as the portrayal of the decaying city, but not necessarily Atlantic City itself. You can set this film today in a place like Baltimore or Detroit and I don't think the story would change all that much, especially in Detroit, which now has its fair share of casinos.
Regardless, there are a few films that are set in contemporary times, and would be completely different if the time period or location changed. Casablanca is the best example I can think of off-hand.
Illusions Michael. Tricks are something whores do for money.
Great Great line and I love Robert Joy's reaction. He's looking at Burt like he's a crazy old coot but we know exactly what he means.
Open the door for Mr. Muckle!!
Great Great line and I love Robert Joy's reaction. He's looking at Burt like he's a crazy old coot but we know exactly what he means.
It also conveyed the sense that Lancaster’s character was so deep in his nostalgia. Memory has a way of making things appear better than they really were.
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