Sam Peckinpah Articles

Ben Johnson isn't exactly what one would call a movie icon; Johnson isn't even a Western icon, despite his presence in numerous Old (and not-so-Old) West movies during his 50+-year career. Johnson's semi-obscurity today is a great reason to celebrate Turner Classic Movies' devoting one whole day to him as part of its "Summer Under the Stars" film series. [Ben Johnson Movie Schedule.] TCM will [...]

STRAW DOGS Review: Part III In his defense, Clover is not the only critic who has butchered their interpretation of the film. The infamous Pauline Kael loved Straw Dogs, but mislabeled it "fascist," as if a band of local loonies are the equivalent of a nationwide junta, while many of her female acolytes condemned both the film and the director for "misogyny." Even the powerful [...]

Dustin Hoffman in Sam Peckinpah's Straw Dogs STRAW DOGS Review: Part II The ending is famed, and justly so. In the car, Henry says, "I don't know my way home" David smiles and says, "That's okay, I don't either." If only the rest of the film had the subtlety and enigmatic poesy of that ending, Straw Dogs would truly be the masterpiece its acolytes proclaim. [...]

Dustin Hoffman in Sam Peckinpah's Straw Dogs STRAW DOGS Review: Part I Worse, the acting does absolutely nothing to liven up the bad writing, as Dustin Hoffman turns in what may well be his worst performance until the ridiculously bad Rain Man. As the story goes, Hoffman loathed Straw Dogs and took the part only for the money; that seems quite apparent on-screen. Susan George [...]