I am currently reading the "true life" novel on which this movie is based. The movie is a lot like the book - very simple and candid with scenes that are mostly devoid of narrative punctuation.
The movie is based on a real life character called Gary Gilmore who decided to not defend himself in a murder trial. In fact, he asked for his own execution. Gilmore spent most of his life in jail and the film is mostly about how he tries to settle back into normal life in Utah when he is on parole. The film tells us a lot about the way of life within the predominantly Mormon community in Utah.
The film is not as detailed as the book (which runs into more than a 1000 pages) and in fact leaves out a lot of good parts.
The performances were satisfactory. Tommy Lee Jones was very good - he plays Gilmore like the sociopath that he was. Unfortunately the film has next to nothing about Gilmore's artistic inclinations - Gilmore was good at drawings and was well read. Rosanna Arquette plays the women half his age with whom he has an intense love affair (they even enter into a suicide pact when Gary is in jail). Eli Wallach and Christine Lahiti are very good as Gary's family. But none of the performances blew me away.
There were a few scenes which jarred due to use of background music and did not fit in with the overall tone of the movie (like the scene where Gary has a fight with his cousin Brenda). I liked the country song played during the titles.
There are many beautiful long shots of the Utah sunsets and used car lots.
The final scenes where Gilmore is executed are quite frightening.
(6/10)
The movie is based on a real life character called Gary Gilmore who decided to not defend himself in a murder trial. In fact, he asked for his own execution. Gilmore spent most of his life in jail and the film is mostly about how he tries to settle back into normal life in Utah when he is on parole. The film tells us a lot about the way of life within the predominantly Mormon community in Utah.
The film is not as detailed as the book (which runs into more than a 1000 pages) and in fact leaves out a lot of good parts.
The performances were satisfactory. Tommy Lee Jones was very good - he plays Gilmore like the sociopath that he was. Unfortunately the film has next to nothing about Gilmore's artistic inclinations - Gilmore was good at drawings and was well read. Rosanna Arquette plays the women half his age with whom he has an intense love affair (they even enter into a suicide pact when Gary is in jail). Eli Wallach and Christine Lahiti are very good as Gary's family. But none of the performances blew me away.
There were a few scenes which jarred due to use of background music and did not fit in with the overall tone of the movie (like the scene where Gary has a fight with his cousin Brenda). I liked the country song played during the titles.
There are many beautiful long shots of the Utah sunsets and used car lots.
The final scenes where Gilmore is executed are quite frightening.
(6/10)