As part of their "William Friedkin Series" this week, the Castro Theatre in San Francisco will present his 1980 dud "Cruising" starring Al Pacino.
I never saw the film (having only been 13 when it was originally released), but from what I understand it was poorly done (Roger Ebert said, "...what could have been a powerful film dissipates...and leaves us feeling merely confused and annoyed") and doesn't live up to such earlier Friedkin films as "The French Connection" and "The Exorcist" (which are being presented this week at the Castro as well).
I may throw the newly digitized DVD in the Netflix rental queue, but a trip to the Castro for such widely panned movie? Probably not.
If you want to see a classic Friedkin film on the big screen, take in "The Exorcist" tonight; or tomorrow's double feature, "The French Connection" (starring Gene Hackman in an Oscar-winning performance) and "To Live and Die In L.A." (starring William Petersen of "C.S.I." fame in his first major film role). The latter two films contain two of the best and most thrilling movie chase sequences ever recorded.
