Post by timshelboy on Sept 10, 2018 16:31:07 GMT
I have acknowledged his phenomenal box office record on a separate thread, but I agree with two sentiments expressed by others (sort of) in this thread - a) That overall the quality of the films was not very high - or at least there isn't a lot on the CV that bodes well for his posterity - Even 30 year olds now would struggle looking at it to understand why he was such a big deal, but agree b) not all films are made for posterity - some are designed to evaporate and disappear like the popcorn they are watched with. He's sort of a male Betty Grable in that respect.
Aside from DELIVERANCE and BOOGIE NIGHTS, the other good one that hasn't got much love here was STARTING OVER - essentially a Romcom and he was (without moustache) in a witty film a long way removed from his usual fare. I gather he was a little peeved that both his leading ladies bagged Oscar nominations for it but he came away empty handed. (FYI -Jill Clayburgh and a hilarious Candice Bergen - I think she landed MURPHY BROWN off the back of it and it marked the turning point in her relationship with the critics - hitherto very cool to her).
I also quite enjoyed PHYSICAL EVIDENCE although I think I'm in the minority on that.
Never even seen SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT
But whatever we say no one take take away his box office record... people may have said at the time that Nicholson or Pacino or DeNiro were the best or their favourite actor... but Burt was who they paid to watch on a Saturday night