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Atlantic City (1980)

Rate: 8
Viewed: 3/14

AtlC
3/14: What's surprising about Atlantic City is the city doesn't look any different after thirty-four years.

Even the people look authentic. Those who had never been to Atlantic City will be fooled by the glamorous advertising and the famous name. In reality, the gambling resort has been dead for decades; instead, it hoards wealth from the poor and senior citizens who are dependent on welfare checks.

Whoever walks inside the casinos will instantly find himself a step back into the past which is nothing but mold. Pathetic sights can be had all over the place like a septuagenarian holding on to his oxygen mask while sitting on the stool, inserting a quarter after quarter into the slot machine, and hoping to hit the jackpot. If he does win, then what? What does it mean? Anyway, that's my lasting memory of Atlantic City. Louis Malle's eponymous film perfectly captures how pathetic the town is.

Burt Lancaster turns in a fine performance. He epitomizes class like no one does. When I think of the movie, I think of his sorry, sappy, and sentimental character. Ah, Susan Sarandon...her notion of acting is taking off her clothes. How many films has she done that for? It's why I can't take her seriously. An irony is the casting of Wallace Shawn as the waiter who'll star in the next awful Louis Malle picture called *shudder* My Dinner with Andre.

All in all, Atlantic City is a great nostalgic Burt Lancaster flick.