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The Rain People (1969)
Rate:
7
Viewed:
4/25
4/25:
People making comparisons between The Rain People and
Easy Rider are far off.
They happen to be road pictures but are totally unlike. It's interesting to see an early work by Francis
Ford Coppola that also features James Caan and Robert Duvall before going on to do
The Godfather. The talent is there, and everything looks competent,
having been shot on location at every point for real during the road trip which turns out to be seven states
in total.
Only James Caan plays an interesting character and steals the show whenever he appears. What Killer simply has is
traumatic brain injury. By the way, is this the film that changed Adam Sandler's life so he could be like him?
If so, that would explain a lot. The college Killer attended for football commits a serious error by
kicking him out when it should've contacted his parents or relatives to ensure he's safely shipped back home. If
none can be reached, the next step is getting in touch with the state to put him in a residential facility.
Otherwise, it's a potential lawsuit.
Shirley Knight as Natalie is a stupid, selfish, and ungrateful bitch. I don't care about her or her problems.
All the bad stuff she's dealing with, I'm sure it's mostly her fault. On the other hand, Robert Duvall,
making a very late appearance, plays a creepy cop who's also a terrible father. As far as their acting
performances go, both are average. They're responsible for Killer's death but won't be blamed for it.
All in all, if not for James Caan, The Rain People would've been a nothing movie about ugly people.