How happy was I when I was forced to switch from lovefilm to cinema paradiso and found they had this gem which lovefilm didn't carry. Two outstanding performances from Burt Lancaster and Susan Sarandon which deserved their Oscar nominations. Louis Malle paints such an accurate picture of the time you immerse yourself in the seedy underbelly of Atlantic city from the off. A story of hope over despair and touching relationships it stands the test of time. It will always get 5 stars from me.
A wonderfully atmospheric film with a classic performance from Burt Lancaster. Don't miss it.
Simply a great film that gets even better with age (possibly because ageing is one of its themes).
Every detail is perfect, from the doors in the apartment block to the signs on the city walls. And the central performances are magnificent, with Burt Lancaster quite mesmerisingly outstanding.
After a wonderful decade for American movies in the 1970s, this feels like a knowing epilogue to that parade of great films.
It is also about the power of fantasy in our lives, and the human need for fantasy to sustain us through the rigours of life.