Long before George Lucas lit the world on fire with Star Wars, he trotted out this riveting Robert Duvall-starring sci-fi flick set in a dystopian future where feelings of love are prohibited and citizens are pacified with drugs which make them compliant with the authorities' demands. It's flown under the radar ever since release, an unavoidably by-product of being directed by Lucas, but it's certainly one of the best films he's yet directed, a ferociously original, terrifying vision of the future in which even the most involuntary feelings are stamped out by a monstrous collective. Duvall gives a great performance, the production design is incredibly striking and the tone is much harsher and more artful than anything in the Star Wars movies. In short, it's a real indication of what Lucas is capable of when action figures and lunchboxes aren't a consideration.
Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes).
General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.
