ZABRISKIE POINT (1970) * I can already hear the response to my criticism, "No, don't you see, Antonioni's entire point is that the protests were justified even if unfocused and even if the protesters couldn't agree as to what they were protesting about, that the neon signs don't require intellectual discourse to confirm that something is terribly out of balance, that over-reaction all but justifies initial wrongdoing..." Right, it's very superficial anyway. The dialogues vary between painful and disastrous to the point of exasperation. There are some very cool face shots, though surpisingly none of the best of them are Daria Halprin, who appears to while away the dialogues waiting for the sensual glories of Zabriskie Point, yet another beautiful spot in the Arizona desert that has been captured at least this well by countless amateurs. Most frustrating of all is that it has one of the all-time great soundtracks, but who watches an entire incoherent jumble of near-random but uninteresting footage just to hear "You Got the Silver" get cut off after 35 seconds? After an agonizing hour-and-a-half the volcanic climax is something of a relief, I admit, and the "Careful With That Axe, Eugene" closing segment shows that just because video is always going to be inferior to music without guidance imagery it doesn't have to be nearly as aesthetically and emotionally bankrupt as MTV. Directed verdict evidence against watering down Sam Shepard with four other writers.
back to Brilliant Observations on 1776 Films home
go back home, or send me email
no more reviews! I want to buy your novel!