Rabbit, Run

source: Rabbit, Run

Trailer—Rabbit, Run

Rabbit, Run

Some films pass the test of time. Others feel incredibly stale, dated, and stultifying. This film, I would wager, felt stale as soon as it hit the theatres. James Caan's and most of the other actors' acting is stiff, forced, and one dimensional, and the screen adaptation of a worthwhile book also is awkward and artificial, in the way that films that don't pass the test of time are. As another reviewer remarked, the film was made 10 years too late--the mores and morals of the year 1960 had already completely shifted by 1970, so the film doesn't even make sense, and the film making and directorial style feel unpleasantly anachronistic.

Good acting with humor here and there. Maybe some of the drama was underplayed as another reviewer stated, but the film held my intention. I watched half the film last night on TCM, my hearing isn't the best and I struggled with the audio. I went to watch the rest of the film today and TCM removed it! Bummer! Being engrossed in the film, I decided to rent it from Amazon. The Amazon version had subtitles, which for me was a huge help. I thought the soundtrack was good. I liked the music, and felt it served the film. Serious issues, drama with humor taking the viewer back to 1970 with James Caan.....Not a good as "The graduate", but kind of in that category.................

One of those times when the film completely loses the spark of the novel on which it's based. John Updike's wonderful prose descriptions and inner dialogues made Rabbit's "run" a framework for the angst and aimlessness of a young adult whose best days are behind him. Instead, now the story is about how James Caan cheats on his wife. The movie version came out in 1970, ten years after the novel, and ten years too late for the plot to make sense: the sexual revolution of the 60's robs the story of its tension. By this point, Updike had already written the sequel, Rabbit Redux, taking his protagonist up to the moment. Updike fans may want to see the movie as a curiosity piece, but I wouldn't recommend it.

The subject matter feels a bit too lightly treated and the technical elements of the film are rather ordinary, but 'Rabbit, Run' has some good ideas, especially in regards to detaching from and trying to escape unhappiness. James Caan is good in the lead and the supporting cast is strong, with Arthur Hill and Jack Albertson particular highlights, plus another solid performance in the same year from Carrie Snodgress of 'Diary of a Mad Housewife'. It is the acting and the occasional good idea that keep this film alive, and it might not be a brilliant piece of cinema, but it does have enough good about it to be a satisfying watch.