08-07-14 The Prisoner of Second Avenue (1975)

Seen: June, 2008
Format: Broadcast (HDNMV - HDNet Movies)
Rating: 6

I'm a big fan of Jack Lemmon. Though he can and does play over the top, frequently, he's got an amazing range and an everyman quality I find engaging. He was starring, I was watching.

And I got Anne Bancroft as a bonus.

The film is written by Neil Simon, adapted from his play. This is a good thing, because no one understands Simon's work as well as Simon does. This is a bad thing because Simon is a playwright, not a screenwriter. His visual sensibility is for the stage, not the screen.

In this case, for the film to succeed, the director must be particularly strong, lending his vision and style to the material. Simon had good and even great success at this with Herb Ross. But here we have Melvin Frank directing, and the film really never gets its legs.

There's a very static quality to the film. Scenes feel staged, actors tend to move either little or dramatically in a defined space of off-stage. The camera is very static and rigid. Most scenes are played from a single perspective, which makes me feel that they are forced on me, rather than expanding in front of me. With the exception of a few dramatic pans and zooms, there's really nothing for interest from the camera itself.

Editing here seems very static as well. Cuts are simple and functional, and while they don't detract from anything, they really don't add much either.

In all, the presentation of the film is very bland.

Which is a great shame, because there's some very good acting to a very good script here.

While the material may not be as accessible for those not living that particular lifestyle in that particular culture, Mel's problems and the way he transitions through them are material with which we can sympathize, if not directly relate. His shame and slow decline are played quote nicely.

Bancroft's Edna is a great foil. Her own transition is excellently portrayed. It's their ultimate strength in each other that makes the story work, and the dark humor that Simon does so well is in full force.

I can't call it great, but I won't say that I wasted my time either. If you love film, see this one as an exercise. If you love Simon's work, it's a must.

The Good: Tour de Force acting
The Bad: Not the best transition to film
The Ugly: Forced relaxation