The way that Scarecrow by Gene Hackman is written and presented makes it seem like a stage play. There are extensive moments with practically no language, just a calm observation, and there are long takes when we witness Max and Lion engaging with one another for long periods. Pacino and Hackman have a chance to develop their on-screen relationship, fully realized in the movie’s climactic scenes.
We weep alongside Max. It is when he observes Lion lying on a hospital bed due to the dreadful news he got and withheld. But a timeless concept is present in these scenes to give the movie a tragic tone and even create suspense.
Hitchcock and other directors have noted that the easiest way to create tension is to reveal information that the main characters are unaware of to the audience. We learn that Scarecrow’s son is a boy and a husband in Lion’s case. However, we see that his wife lies out of hatred for his absence when Lion eventually has a chance to speak with her.
She claims their son passed away due to a miscarriage, although this is untrue. The rest of the movie features Lion in a catatonic state after experiencing a mental breakdown. The sorrow is in the deception. Also, the fact that Max pleads with his friend to wake up makes the finale of Gene Hackman’s movie even more tragic. Read more about beitragpost latest news in USA
Scarecrow by Gene Hackman provides all the character studies viewers could ask for. The main character of Max, that is continually in and out of legal trouble due to his very ferocious outbursts of wrath that result in rage and aggression, has a completely developed storyline.
Due to their violent altercation at the pub, he and Lion wind themselves in jail. We witness Max asking for something bigger than him. It is even if he accuses Lion of the sexual assault, and he still seeks retaliation and revenge.
Although this is a pure road trip film, we only travel a little. Max is alone and back where he began at the movie’s end. After a breakdown, Lion is present in a hospital, and Max moves to Pittsburgh to complete his task. Why did it matter? In a movie like this, the goal is to have some time with the characters we get to know and feel a connection to. There isn’t probably a point, just like in life.
When watching a Gene Hackman movie like Scarecrow, it’s especially OK to hang around with the characters and listen to the dialogue to understand more about what it’s like to be human. A movie like this requires realism, and it wins in that. It doesn’t need spectacular violence or huge stakes. Also, it provides a real-world, in-depth approach to outcasts, Middle American culture, and the relationships forged on the path. It is a masterful demonstration of the acting prowess of its two major actors.
This movie deserves your attention and merits more discussion. Hopefully, Scarecrow by Gene Hackman will get that much-needed attention as it celebrates its 50th birthday this year.
