MovieChat Forums > The Osterman Weekend (1983) Discussion > Tensions in suburbia

Tensions in suburbia

posted 14 years ago by c7c7c7r
3 replies | jump to latest

When they meet for their yearly weekend gathering, I can picture it being about any group of suburbanites and the tensions that bubble just under the surface. Peckinpah does a great job in showing the subtle and not-so-subtle feelings of these friends. Over martinis by the pool, there's sexual bantering, expressions of real feelings disguised as joking. Peckinpah ratchets up the tension during the poolgame sequence. Sarandon meanly kicks the family dog and things get out of control -the editing is great. The following dinner scene--Meg Foster is magnificent as her rage comes to the surface.
The movie is a great acting ensemble piece, in the hands of a great director.
Even though the story is about spies, and the ending could be better, there's a touch of genius to it thanks to Sam.

[–] BrianMatrix 14 years ago

I agree. It's a very underrated movie. It's not The Wild Bunch, but there's no reason for it to have such a low reputation. Great cast, great direction, and a good story (I don't get why people insist that it doesn't make sense).

Also, plenty of gratuitous nudity and Peckinpah-style action. What's not to like?

[–] LightningLad 14 years ago

Yes, I find it to be a thriller where it's more about the characters than the case, and the espionage style suspicion is symbolic of general suburban angst and anxiety. It's like how I tend to see Manchurian Candidate being more about a broken man in a twisted oedipal relationship than a US takeover plot.

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Reason is a pursuit, not a conclusion.

[–] maxman-5 9 years ago

I'm guessing Sam drew upon some of his personal experiences for the pool scenes.