The Panic In Needle Park details
| Format: | 18 DVD |
|---|---|
| Starring: | Alan Vint, Kitty Winn, Al Pacino, Richard Bright, Kiel Martin |
| Director: | Jerry Schatzberg |
| Genres: | Action/Adventure - Espionage & Spies, Thriller - Crime, Drama |
| Name | Discs | |
|---|---|---|
The Panic In Needle Park |
18 Feature |
DVD Information
| Run time: | 1 hour 45 minutes |
|---|---|
| Rental release: | 30 Sep 2002 |
| Main languages: | English |
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Most helpful review
An Impressive Performance From A Baby Faced Pacino
By Clucky from Cardiff, Wales , 24 Aug 2004[Highly rated reviewer]
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.- Was this review helpful to you?
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(16)Pins & needles
By SirSaucyRascal (35 reviews) , 08 Feb 2012See this movie !
It's not pleasant and it is not happy !!
but it might be true !!!!!!!!!!
......and see those locations
......and whatever happened to kitty-she was better than Al.- Was this review helpful to you?
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Urban Nightmare Romance
By redzed (31 reviews) from London , 17 May 2010Panic in Needle Park is a film that captures the essence of 70s US cinema outside of the big blockbusters of the period. It is gritty and depressing, but compelling to watch due to the great script, off-key pacing and innovative camera work.
It is essentially a destructive love story, as the innocent Helen (Kitty Winn) falls for cheeky junky Bobby (Al Pacino). Inevitably, Helen's curiosity gets the better of her and soon the couple are on a downward spiral; stealing and prostituting to fund their relentless habits.
The performances in the film are naturalistic and powerful, and the camerawork borrows from films like Bonnie and Clyde to great effect. Silent screams, disjunction between sound and image at crucial moments and vast temporal jumps work with the bleak realist aesthetic to great effect.
Any film in which the characters have no overriding goal can be difficult and frustrating to watch. However, if you're mentally prepared for the ever-bleak experience of watching a film about drug addiction then there is much to be appreciated in this gritty 70s drama.- Was this review helpful to you?
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THE ORIGINAL TRain Spotting
By OSo (403 reviews) from Tooting London , 17 Feb 2010Shows the lows of a heroin addiction
Very good for its day
Like a hard version of trainspotting in neW yrok
With out the laughs
Chek it out!!- Was this review helpful to you?
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great
By a customer from Tunbridge Wells , 31 Oct 2009Pleasantly suprised by this film. great acting of course and a fascinating look at addiction. Much better than other films on this subject. Not for everyone of course but if you like the darker films this ones for you.- Was this review helpful to you?
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Epic gutter romance
By TDH from England , 12 May 2006Beautiful people, excellent romance but dire surroundings. The most convincing portrayl of a deprived-urban drug seen I have seen on the movie screen to date. The roles played by these actors are some of the most demanding. This movie is an all time great,,,- Was this review helpful to you?
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