Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Getting Straight (1970)
Director: Richard Rush
Movie review
From Time Out Film Guide
Muddled (and now dated) campus revolt comedy, distinguished by Elliott Gould's marvellously grizzly performance as an ageing dropout who decides to drop back in again, and resolutely keeps his nose glued to his books in self-defence. Robert Kaufman's script casts a nicely caustic eye not only on the juvenility of the student demands, but also on the hopeless desiccation of academia. Instead of following up, he opts for the easy way out, offering a kitschy metaphor - make love not protest - in a ridiculous scene where Gould strips off to do just that amid the flying fists of a campus riot. Rush's mannered direction is no help, but there are some very funny scenes, not least an oral in which Gould is driven into a corner like a caged lion by an examiner determined to make him admit, through a reinterpretation of The Great Gatsby, that Scott Fitzgerald was a closet homosexual.Author: TM
User reviews of this film
-
- mr.mike said...
- Posted on May 08 2009 14:47 Mostly fun but the thid act gets bogged down with speeches and becomes preachy. Gould and Bergen are at their best , however.
- Report as inappropriate
Cast & crew
Director: Richard Rush
Producer: Richard Rush
Cast: Elliott Gould, Candice Bergen, Robert F Lyons, Jeff Corey, Max Julien, Cecil Kellaway, Harrison Ford full cast
Genre(s): Comedy
Duration: 125 mins
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Stephen Poliakoff discusses 'Glorious 39'
Stephen Poliakoff’s ‘Glorious 39’ is his first film for cinema since ‘Food of Love’ in 1997. Dave Calhoun met him
Is 'Paranormal Activity' the new 'Blair Witch'?
How does a film go from DIY experiment to box-office smash? 'Paranormal Activity' director Oren Peli explains
Steven Soderbergh on 'The Informant!' and 'The Girlfriend Experience'
We talk to Steven Soderbergh about his two forthcoming films: one featuring a porn star, the other a chubby Matt Damon
A gateway to all things 'New Moon'
In anticipation of 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon', Time Out is offering the chance to pick up a limited edition pack with three exclusive magazines and a free poster.
London Children's Film Festival
Read our exclusive reviews of films playing at the 2009 London Children’s Film Festival
The films that deserve a TV spin-off
With Roland Emmerich suggesting he'd like to make a '2012' TV spin-off, we propose some more movie-to-TV serialisations
The Coen brothers discuss 'A Serious Man'
Masters of contrary comedy, Joel and Ethan Coen have struck gold again with their latest, ‘A Serious Man’
Michael Haneke discusses 'The White Ribbon'
Dave Calhoun met with Michael Haneke in Munich to mull over the details of his Palme d'Or winner, 'The White Ribbon'
Ten inspirations behind 'Avatar'?
Time Out ponders the influences behind James Cameron's anticipated space-opera on the basis of the trailer
Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam
In celebration of the release of Pixar's 'Up' and Wes Anderson's 'Fantastic Mr Fox', read our rundown of fifty classic feature length animations












What do you think?
Post your review now