Having not seen The Last Picture Show in almost 10 years, rewatching this classic was almost like watching it for the first time. The film chronicles a small town in Texas that is slowly dying. The narrative focuses on a trio of high school kids, who should have their entire life in front of them, yet there is a bleakness in the air. We see there day to day lives and the boredom which hangs over these individuals, old and young, where everything just feels incredibly stagnant. The atmosphere of this film is really something to experience as everything and everyone feel so stuck, with no means of escape. Peter Bogdanovich's black and white cinematography really matches the film's mood, using some really great camera movements in a few key scenes, elevating the emotional impact. There is no doubt that Bogdanovich really studied the films of John Ford, using some meticulous compositions in deep focus, expressing how this era is coming to an end. The performances all around are undoubtedly fantastic, with Cloris Leachman really stealing every scene she is in as the lonely, troubled housewife, Mrs. Popper. Another aspect of the film which I always found interesting is how this boredom and stagnation breeds this type of moral corruption and experimentation. The Last Picture Show is definitely a film that deserves the praise it received, giving a unique time capsule of a decaying town. 8.5/10
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AuthorLove of all things cinema brought me here. Archives
June 2023
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