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Straight Time

post #1 of 14
7/6/07 at 12:11pm
Thread Starter 
I got this disc yesterday despite the "Long Wait" designation on my Queue.

This was a very good movie and especially for it's look of the ex-con trying to go legit but failing to do so not because the system fucks him over or because it was mistake but because he wants to. (It was based off a book written by a guy while still in prison)

I will say I was extremly impressed with Hoffman's understated performance as Max Denbo. Not to mention I love the detailed look of late 70s Los Angeles. I'd recommend this for anyone who was a fan of Thief or Heat but it's not as slick as those two.

Not to mention Harry Dean Stanton was great as Max's friend who despite being successfully legit with a construction business, house and wife just wants to go back to making scores so bad.

Plus a great performances from J.T. Walsh as the sleazy parole officer.
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post #2 of 14
7/6/07 at 12:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by EdHocken
I got this disc yesterday despite the "Long Wait" designation on my Queue.

This was a very good movie and especially for it's look of the ex-con trying to go legit but failing to do so not because the system fucks him over or because it was mistake but because he wants to. (It was based off a book written by a guy while still in prison)
Edward Bunker. You'd probably know him better as Mr. Blue.



He also wrote the script for Runaway Train, and while on set recognized Danny Trejo (working as an extra) from "inside", and gave Trejo a larger role.
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post #3 of 14
7/6/07 at 12:28pm
Thread Starter 
Funny, the disc had a news documentary from around the time was was released and they showed Bunker and I hadn't put 2 and 2 together. Color me impressed.
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post #4 of 14
7/10/07 at 5:52am
Straight Time fucking rules, but I also like Animal Factory.

Really, I'd rather see a biopic on Eddie Bunker.
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post #5 of 14
7/17/07 at 8:50pm
It's a keeper. Just finished watching it... I'm trying to rationalize Busey's fate. He was a sleeze and a half... but I felt so bad for him as well.
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post #6 of 14
7/17/07 at 8:50pm
It's a keeper. Just finished watching it... I'm trying to rationalize Busey's fate. He was a sleeze and a half... but I felt so bad for him as well.
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post #7 of 14
7/17/07 at 9:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheThirdMan
Straight Time fucking rules, but I also like Animal Factory.

Really, I'd rather see a biopic on Eddie Bunker.
Steve Buscemi is: Edd-- oh never mind...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Phil!
He also wrote the script for Runaway Train, and while on set recognized Danny Trejo (working as an extra) from "inside", and gave Trejo a larger role.
What was Kurosawa's involvement with that again? That's a great movie, most people seem to have forgotten about it. I need to check out Straight Time.
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post #8 of 14
7/17/07 at 9:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheThirdMan
Straight Time fucking rules, but I also like Animal Factory.

Really, I'd rather see a biopic on Eddie Bunker.
Steve Buscemi is: Edd-- oh never mind...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Phil!
He also wrote the script for Runaway Train, and while on set recognized Danny Trejo (working as an extra) from "inside", and gave Trejo a larger role.
What was Kurosawa's involvement with that again? That's a great movie, most people seem to have forgotten about it. I need to check out Straight Time.
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post #9 of 14
7/18/07 at 12:12am
Jon Voigt's character in Heat, Nate, was based on Bunker.
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post #10 of 14
7/18/07 at 12:12am
Jon Voigt's character in Heat, Nate, was based on Bunker.
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post #11 of 14
7/18/07 at 1:36am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nexus-7
What was Kurosawa's involvement with that again? That's a great movie, most people seem to have forgotten about it. I need to check out Straight Time.
It says "Based on a screenplay by Akira Kurosawa". IMDB says:

Quote:
Akira Kurosawa co-wrote the original script and planned to direct it in upstate New York. The project was cancelled because the snowstorms were so bad, his crew could not work. Originally, the character played by Jon Voight was a convicted killer, but writer and ex-con Edward Bunker changed him to a safe cracker because he felt the other prisoners would not respect a killer.

Akira Kurosawa originally planned to cast. Henry Fonda as the Railwayman and 'Peter Falk' as the Escaped Convict.
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post #12 of 14
7/18/07 at 1:36am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nexus-7
What was Kurosawa's involvement with that again? That's a great movie, most people seem to have forgotten about it. I need to check out Straight Time.
It says "Based on a screenplay by Akira Kurosawa". IMDB says:

Quote:
Akira Kurosawa co-wrote the original script and planned to direct it in upstate New York. The project was cancelled because the snowstorms were so bad, his crew could not work. Originally, the character played by Jon Voight was a convicted killer, but writer and ex-con Edward Bunker changed him to a safe cracker because he felt the other prisoners would not respect a killer.

Akira Kurosawa originally planned to cast. Henry Fonda as the Railwayman and 'Peter Falk' as the Escaped Convict.
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post #13 of 14
7/20/07 at 5:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by EdHocken
Plus a great performances from M. Emmett Walsh. as the sleazy parole officer.
Thats more like it.
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post #14 of 14
5/6/11 at 7:58pm

Saw this gem the other night on Instant Play and was blown away by it. One of the more tense movies I've seen in the past couple of years. I found the Jewel heist scene so nerve-wracking I actually woke my family up from screaming at my computer monitor. Also loved the performances from some great character actors(Harry Dean Stanton, Kathy Bates, M. Emmett Walsh). Gary Busey especially impressed me with his turn as Hoffman's junkie ex-con friend. Seeing what a cartoon he is now it's easy to forget he was once a genuinely good actor. The only thing I found disappointing was Hoffman's relationship. I've seen my fair share of contrived on-screen romances before but for some reason this one kept bugging me. It makes no sense whatsoever that she would harbour this fugitive ex-con who she had only been on one date with. Oh well. Highly recommend this one to anyone who hasn't checked it out before.

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