Sunday, September 25, 2022

Movie review - "The Hunter" (1980) **

 I understand Steve McQueen wasn't diagnosed with cancer until after he'd finished this but in hindsight he doesn't look very well. He's got charisma, and can still move he just seems old especially as young pretty Kathryn Harrold is his pregnant girlfriend.

There's a bunch of plots going on here. McQueen worried about being a dad (there's lots of talks about lamaze classes), McQueen captures a crook (LeVar Burton) who then helps around the house, a cop friend is accused of corruption, a nastier criminal results this big action chase set piece shoved in at the end, a psycho torments Harrold (best scene in the film he whispers at her Midnight Lace style in a deserted classroom - but she doens't tell him about it). Almost a wacky comedy ending with McQueen talking Harrold to the hospital before birth followed by TV movie style credits.

Support cast includes Ben Johnson and Eli Wallach.

It's an odd combination of Hollywood feature and TV money, like it needed another $5 million or something.

Peter Hyams was going to make it at one stage and did a draft. McQueen should have worked with better directors at this stage of his career.

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