This movie seems very much a star vehicle for singer Barbra Streisand, who plays undergraduate student Katie Morosky. Set in 1930's America at the start of the movie, Morosky is a politically active communist on campus, who hands out flyers and speaks at anti-war rallies. The man who will become her love interest is Hubbell Gardiner, played by Robert Redford. Gardiner is more a part of the elite than Morosky and is not politically active at all...he's more hedonistic, hence their being a potential odd couple.
For this early part of the movie, you have to suspend disbelief over how much older Streisand and Redford seem in relation to the characters they play. In other words, they look too old for their parts. However, Redford gives a completely winning performance early in the piece as an undergraduate student. He is all easy charm, manners, and engagingly amusing to boot...in contrast to oh so serious Morosky.
Now, not being versed in the history of this production, it does come across as Streisand pulling all of the strings. She is not a conventional leading lady, and her pairing with Redford would not seem an obvious choice. To me, their early attraction was glossed over, which made Morosky seem a little bit creepy when she does get into bed with Gardiner for the first time! So, if Streisand did pull a lot of strings to make this movie, it perhaps represents some 'wish fulfilment' on her part! And, as if to explain her presence in this film, Morosky does say some things which seem to have psychoanalytical weight for Streisand's own situation (i.e. Morosky's views on her looks, which may engage the audience member wondering why Streisand is paired with Redford).
The undergraduate Morosky may seem a tad annoying early on, but the more mature Morosky does engage more...not being so militant, and ridding herself of that overgrown mop of hair on her head which didn't sit right with me. It's then that it becomes more understandable why Gardiner would be attracted to her.
Theirs is an intriguing relationship, especially in how Morosky deals with Gardiner's friends, who are more like him than her. During the period that they are in university together (or maybe it's called 'college' in the US), attention is paid to Gardiner's writing ability. It is this part of the story that will later have a life of its own in the movie. Initially this branch of the story seemed quite odd...why focus on this if this is meant to be a love story? Things become clearer later on, as the historical context of the film's setting becomes clearer. This historical context may prove to be an eye-opener for Americans who are "Generation X" or "Generation Y".
When I jotted down notes on this film, I wrote: "The ending is sort of established, so, like the start, you wonder about the specifics". Hmmm, not sure what I meant by that!
Anyway, I give this film 65/100. Intriguing, and Redford shows his star qualities here-the Brad Pitt of his day.
For this early part of the movie, you have to suspend disbelief over how much older Streisand and Redford seem in relation to the characters they play. In other words, they look too old for their parts. However, Redford gives a completely winning performance early in the piece as an undergraduate student. He is all easy charm, manners, and engagingly amusing to boot...in contrast to oh so serious Morosky.
Now, not being versed in the history of this production, it does come across as Streisand pulling all of the strings. She is not a conventional leading lady, and her pairing with Redford would not seem an obvious choice. To me, their early attraction was glossed over, which made Morosky seem a little bit creepy when she does get into bed with Gardiner for the first time! So, if Streisand did pull a lot of strings to make this movie, it perhaps represents some 'wish fulfilment' on her part! And, as if to explain her presence in this film, Morosky does say some things which seem to have psychoanalytical weight for Streisand's own situation (i.e. Morosky's views on her looks, which may engage the audience member wondering why Streisand is paired with Redford).
The undergraduate Morosky may seem a tad annoying early on, but the more mature Morosky does engage more...not being so militant, and ridding herself of that overgrown mop of hair on her head which didn't sit right with me. It's then that it becomes more understandable why Gardiner would be attracted to her.
Theirs is an intriguing relationship, especially in how Morosky deals with Gardiner's friends, who are more like him than her. During the period that they are in university together (or maybe it's called 'college' in the US), attention is paid to Gardiner's writing ability. It is this part of the story that will later have a life of its own in the movie. Initially this branch of the story seemed quite odd...why focus on this if this is meant to be a love story? Things become clearer later on, as the historical context of the film's setting becomes clearer. This historical context may prove to be an eye-opener for Americans who are "Generation X" or "Generation Y".
When I jotted down notes on this film, I wrote: "The ending is sort of established, so, like the start, you wonder about the specifics". Hmmm, not sure what I meant by that!
Anyway, I give this film 65/100. Intriguing, and Redford shows his star qualities here-the Brad Pitt of his day.