The Panic In Needle Park
1971
Tough, uncompromising film about a small-time drugs dealer on Manhattan's West Side. Read more
| Starring | Al Pacino, Kitty Winn, Alan Vint, Richard Bright |
|---|---|
| Director | Jerry Schatzberg |
| Genres | Drama |
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The Panic In Needle Park
Tough, uncompromising film about a small-time drugs dealer on Manhattan's West Side.
| Starring | Al Pacino, Kitty Winn, Alan Vint, Richard Bright, Kiel Martin |
|---|---|
| Director | Jerry Schatzberg |
| Studio | ILC PRIME |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 45 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 30 Sep 2002 Production year: 1971 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (3)
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Drug abuse movies can be hard to take, but this compelling drama has a superior screenplay (by Joan Didion and her husband John Gregory Dunne) and sensational performances from young Al Pacino and Kitty Winn. He's the cheeky bad boy and she the nice, sweet girl irresistibly drawn to him, and together their youthful dabbling in drugs drags them down into addiction and a harrowing spiral of squalor and loathing. Pacino's electrifying presence here convinced Francis Ford Coppola to fight enormous studio resistance to the unknown New Yorker and cast him as Michael Corleone in The Godfather. Look out, too, for Raul Julia and Paul Sorvino.
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A gruelling but highly responsible film about the influence of heroin on a New York street romance. Schatzberg moves... read more on Time Out
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Most helpful member's review
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18 out of 29 people found this review helpful
An Impressive Performance From A Baby Faced Pacino
The Panic in Needle Park and Midnight Cowboy were the first two films that whetted my appetite for late 1960s/early 1970s American cinema. What particularly fascinated me about these films was the unflinching portrayal of human beings living a grim existence amongst decaying landscapes and exploitative characters. Here Schatzberg focuses on a group of New York City heroin users, submerging you into their world of addicts, prostitutes and petty criminals.
One aspect that sets this film aside from contemporary works like Trainspotting is the rough and ready style of filming used and also the complete lack of a soundtrack or clever special effects. The impact is even more effective with close up shots of users shooting up and the characters, at the time, being more or less unknowns. Of course this is no longer true since Pacino is now a bona fide star (despite his poor recent output) and here he gives a stark and realistic performance has a habitual drug user. Whilst Pacino moved onto greater things, his co-star Kitty Winn unfortunately slipped off the radar, which is a shame given her persuasive performance here.
This is a genuinely powerful film and one that seems to have slipped by most of the movie viewing population. The lack of interest maybe due to the fact that the film is extremely bleak and times the plot can drag a little. However, if you are fan of 70s American cinema then I recommend renting this one, I think you will be pleasantly surprised. 3 and a half out of 5. -
Most recent members' review
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Depressing, but good performance from Pacino
Depressing & dated movie about a drug dealer. Excellent, as always, performance by Pacino.A movie you have to be in the mood for though.Not a one to watch if you are feeling a bit down.
This DVD could do with a decent digital transfer,the picture is no better than a VHS. -
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The Panic In Needle Park
Tough, uncompromising film about a small-time drugs dealer on Manhattan's West Side....
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