Burstyn's Picture Show

Rating: 6/10 (19 April 2004)

Although the director and writers obviously care about the characters, the filmmaking techniques draw too much attention to themselves. The quick edits of popping pills, eyes dilating, and the effects of drug usage in the blood stream were quite effective however. But, I have to ask, is this what it takes to keep audiences involved nowadays? Ellen Burstyn gives a courageous performance in what had to be a grueling shoot. The most harrowing scene in the film for me was not the climax at the end, but a little earlier on when Mrs. Goldfarb is riding the subway on the way to Madison Avenue to try to get on television. The director left a natural lens on the camera long enough to let Burstyn?s performance come through. The other actors were also totally committed and the result shows in every scene. It was fun to see Louise Lasser and Marcia Jean Kurtz (memorable in "Dog Day Afternoon") as two of Goldfarb's friends.
The theme of the piece seems to be the yearning to hide the pain of everyday mundane life--whether it's done by overeating, drugs, or sex. If you buy this and haven't seen this theme dealt with in film too many other times ad nausea--this will appear as an original work.