ALICE DOESN'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE (1974) ** You can look out the window and see plenty of boring, sad stories. I don't need any fake ones. The premise that they're all interesting is, if true, distracting from the real ones. I guess that was supposed to be a happy ending, but I see only nihilists rubbing their hands with glee. Ellen Burstyn is obvious enough as everywoman without any talent (which Martin Scorsese highlights by following her performance with Dolly Parton sangin' "I Will Always Love You" on the jukebox) who wants to be a star, but...there's not even enough time to listen to everyone who does have talent. Speaking of which, Kris Kristofferson is very believable as that kind of simple guy who walks into the diner and sits there hoping the waitress will notice him so he doesn't have to do much small talk, because his life isn't of the sort that generates much to talk about. All of which goes to show that he's a very fine actor. Scorsese shoots it all the way it could be shot, omitting funerals...maybe some of the point is that we should be grateful that we're not the people depicted. We are, we are! Grateful, I mean. The only parts where it gained any pleasant traction on my psyche whatsoever were the appearances of Jodie Foster, eager to get high on ripple, and take whatever she needs. Is there an argument that she's the only genuinely happy character presented? An existential feminist hero for...ah, never mind. If you can get there, you've probably already gone. As for the other kid, at least he listens to Mott the Hoople loud.
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