Mark Turner I can recall when this movie was released to theaters. At the time Al Pacino was one of the hottest box office stars around. In the five years prior to this film he starred in THE GODFATHER 1 & 2, SCARECROW, SERPICO and DOG DAY AFTERNOON. So the odds are that he would have a turkey eventually. This is the giant turkey, one big enough to feed a family or two come Thanksgiving.Pacino stars as formula race car driver Bobby Deerfield. Bobby lives the high life, plenty of fast cars and money, married to a top model and yet bored to death. When a friend is involved in a terrible crash, he goes to visit him in the hospital and there meets Lillian (Marthe Keller). Strongly attracted to her he tracks her down and insists on spending time with her.The two begin an affair but Bobby soon discovers her reason for being reluctant to do so. Lillian has a terminal illness and the odds of her surviving are slim at best. And yet she lives her life to the fullest. She presses Bobby to do the same, to spend the time he has with her to discover life.I won't reveal anything here about the plot but it has all been done before and much better. On top of that the movie is a snooze fest that was difficult to watch. Pacino can be one of the most dynamic performers ever seen on screen but here he's left to mope around and contemplate life, something that lends itself to boring to watch. Which this film is.I was stunned to see the number of positive reviews for this film online. I remember when it was released it was savaged by critics and died an agonizing death at the box office. Seeing it I can see why. Word of mouth on this film had to have driven the nail in its coffin. It wasn't so much that I found myself dozing off at various moments in this film (though there were those moments) it's that I kept hoping something would happen that would draw my interest. I wanted to have characters that I cared about and yet I found myself not caring on iota about any of them. While potential tragedy with the lifestyles of the rich and famous should not interfere with feeling sympathy, here you find yourself with a lack of caring that matches those of the characters on screen.Keller, on the rise prior to its release having done MARATHON MAN and BLACK Sunday never seemed to recover after this film. Pacino, a star by this time, was much more fortunate. Director Sydney Pollock also did well after. That's good news because had their careers been determined by this film we might not have ever heard from them again.Twilight Time has again made a great presentation of this film for those that love it. If you are among those make sure you get a copy since as always they've limited the number of copies being made.

leplatypus I'm surprised to see it's actually not a racing movie but a love story, and a rather good one and among the few that did Pacino. Sure, for the asphalt lover, you will have a excellent introspective of a pilot(the danger, the uselessness of making circles) and a good retrospective of what was F1 in the late 70s. But, it's above all a dramatic romance that happens in Europa (Paris and Firenze essentially). As it's an early Pacino, he's the nervous, a bit cold and not smiling easily actor of that period. What's interesting is that her girlfriend will change him as a more cool, compassionate that's actually the old Pacino. The good thing also is that the girlfriend is very funny, free, careless and it's a big change from the usual romance, even as if Al says, she's a bit difficult to follow. In addition, Marthe Keller is a fine woman and it's also the proof that charm doesn't mean sex appeal. Another thing that catches my eyes is the carefree way of life of those times(drinking, smoking) and the flashy fashion. In a way, it's like the rebellious generation of the sixties has reaches adulthood without losing their conviction. So, explain why now, in the 10s, everything is forbidden and it's the time of the dark suits!

LeaBlacks_Balls This is the story of a racing car driver Bobby Deerfield (Pacino) who cheats on his unloved wife (Duperey) and finds solace in the arms of Lillian Morelli, a strange and irresistible woman (Keller). In the long conversations where they explore each other's lives, Lillian asks incessant questions and invents dramatic events of her past life just to add interest and excitement to their exchange of ideas. Lillian has a teasing manner and Bobby finds her mannerisms strange at first but then begins to realize that here is a woman of difference and he begins falling in love with her and seeks her out wherever she happens to be. Bobby's journeys take him to some of the most romantic spots in France and Italy, beautiful vistas that really enhance the film. But Bobby soon discovers that his wife knows more about this quirky woman than he does.Unlike many of Pacino's films, this is an very subtle film. Nothing terribly exciting happens during the film, but the chemistry between the two leads is wonderful. The scenes with the two of them just talking are so romantic and interesting. Also, the scenery is gorgeous, as is the lush soundtrack.Like many people, I prefer Pacino's work pre-'Scarface.' In film like this, and 'The Godfather I and II,' 'Panic In Needle Park,' 'Serpico' and 'Cruising,' Pacino creates fascinating characters, one never like the other. In 'Scarface' he went over the top and sadly has rarely come down since.My favorite scene is when Bobby does an impression for Lillian that he used to do as a child. If this movie were made a decade later, this scene would have been painful to watch. But as he does his best imitation of Mae West, the scene is sweet, and Pacino reveals a vulnerability in Bobby that shoots straight to your heart.

raymond-15 This is the story of a racing car driver Bobby Deerfield (Al Pacino) who cheats on his unloved wife and finds solace in the arms of Lillian Morelli a strange and irresistible woman (Marthe Keller). In the long conversations where they explore each other's lives. Lillian asks incessant questions and invents dramatic events of her past life just to add interest and excitement to their exchange of ideas.Lillian has a teasing manner and suggests that being a racing car driver must be extremely boring just going around in circles. Bobby finds her mannerisms strange at first but begins to realise that here is a woman of difference and he begins falling in love with her and seeks her out wherever she happens to be.Bobby's journeys take him to some of the most romantic spots in France and Italy, beautiful vistas that really enhance the film.The scene with the hot air balloons is a memorable one. Lillian invites him to join her in the basket but he refuses, somewhat put out by her unpredictable behaviour.Wives have ways and means of discovering what their husbands have been up to and Bobby soon discovers that his wife knows more about this quirky woman than he does. We have here a very interesting and absorbing script.The characters throughout are believable with Lillian doing the oddest things to alleviate any moments of boredom and Bobby completely bewildered by her antics and capacity to tell lies.How many of us have been approached by strangers to take their photograph while on a holiday? And so it is here. In one happy romantic moment an American takes a snapshot and promises to send them a print. What follows rounds off a very enjoyable film.