Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Bookmark this pageThey Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969)
Director: Sydney Pollack
Movie review
From Time Out Film Guide
Pollack's adaptation of Horace McCoy's novel about the competitive dance marathons of the Depression years was enthusiastically received when first released, and had a string of Academy Award nominations, several of them for its performances. The acting is strident and overblown, the narrative technique gimmicky and obvious, and the implication that the competitors' situation is a microcosm of a wider-reaching American malaise (though safely distanced by the period and the flash-back-and-forth narrative technique) rather pretentious.Author:
User reviews of this film
-
- Jo said...
- Posted on Oct 23 2008 13:06 This is possibly the stupidest review I've ever read. To call this film pretentious because of it's metaphor for the Great Depression is ignorant and thick. This reviewer clearly doesn't know their butt from their elbow on films!
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Venerable said...
- Posted on Jun 29 2008 07:36 I agree, this is lazy, movie-guide criticism. You know, sometimes, these film/music reviewers write about things they haven't even seen/heard . I think it would be safe to dimiss this critic in the same manner he dismissed this film. Review: Pretentious, strident and overblown. 0 stars.
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Shawn in Montreal said...
- Posted on Jun 02 2008 19:25 I just finished watching the film on DVD and had pretty much the same reaction as the reviewer. While the film does still pack a punch and feature great performances, this is a deeply flawed film, too.
- Report as inappropriate
-
- holden said...
- Posted on May 27 2008 16:02 the only pretentious thing was this po-faced revue, lazy snotty film criticism at its worst.
- Report as inappropriate
Cast & crew
Director: Sydney Pollack
Producer: Irwin Winkler, Robert Chartoff
Cast: Jane Fonda, Michael Sarrazin, Susannah York, Gig Young, Red Buttons, Bonnie Bedelia, Michael Conrad, Bruce Dern, Severn Darden, Allyn Ann McLerie full cast
Duration: 129 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