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The Anderson Tapes (1971)

Rate: 3
Viewed: 6/20

AndersonT
6/20: Underscored by dated moments, editing, and dialogue, The Anderson Tapes is a piss-poor film by Sidney Lumet considering the high amount of star power it offers.

The plot is simple: a mastermind serves his time, is set free from prison, seeks out accomplices for a big caper, wears a Leatherface mask, is caught half dead just about after the job is done, and the end. If you think that's quick, wait until you see the movie, and you'll be in for a long, boring ride. And what's with the paraplegic kid?

At the same time, there are tons of electronic surveillance, so what's the point of them all? They play no big role at the end. The whole time I was thinking, why didn't the FBI (or whoever they were) alert the police department of what's about to go down? Afterwards, the cops could've caught them red-handed before things went any further. Instead, some of them use a rope to skywalk from one building to another, but why?

Speaking of masks, how come the characters don't cover up their hair, too? Duke Anderson visits the building regularly, resulting in an easy identification by the doorman. Also, the gay interior decorator has a distinct hairdo while he and everybody else make a recent but highly unusual visit which should be good for a quick memory jog.

With the exception of Judith Lowry who's quite a hoot, the cast is boring. I'm rather disappointed with Sean Connery, who sports no toupee for the first time, because he can occasionally make a film interesting but never manages to. As for Christopher Walken, it's his first major screen role, but he does nothing special. Martin Balsam plays a flaming homosexual just for the hell of it. Forget Alan King and Dyan Cannon; they're goners. It's the final feature film appearance for Margaret Hamilton, the Wicked Witch of the West.

All in all, the real Sidney Lumet would emerge in 1973 to begin his run of many classic films, leaving The Anderson Tapes in the dust.