Author Topic: "Cruising" - Love it or Loathe it?  (Read 7643 times)

Offline Kerry

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"Cruising" - Love it or Loathe it?
« on: September 22, 2007, 09:16:39 am »
The 1980 Al Pacino vehicle, "Cruising," is about to make its DVD debut after 27 years. Do you love it or loathe it? Perhaps you're ambivalent about it. Do you think it's homophobic or homofriendly?

Tell us your thoughts. Tick as many boxes as you like.


At a time when gay and lesbian characters were virtually invisible in mainstream film and television, a movie like "Cruising" - about an undercover cop (Al Pacino) who infiltrates the hard-core S/M leather-bar scene in New York City on the hunt for a killer targeting gay men - was guaranteed to stir up anger in the relatively young pre-AIDS gay rights movement.

Besides its sleazy milieu and gay-on-gay violence, the movie features fairly explicit (by Hollywood standards) scenes of sex acts that even some purveyors of gay porn would consider beyond the pale. Gay protesters picketed the film during its production and again when it appeared in theaters in 1980. But now, 27 years later, as the film makes its DVD debut, is it time to reevaluate the place of "Cruising" in queer cinema history?


Director William Friedkin ("The Exorcist," "The Boys in the Band") reveals on the DVD's bonus features that he was drawn to the film because the New York fetish bars made a great setting for a murder mystery. He points out that there were plenty of gay men at the time who didn't protest - namely, the leather-bar denizens who happily participated in the film's production as extras.

The featurettes also include insights from producer Jerry Weintraub, actor and former police officer Randy Jurgensen and other cast members discussing matters such as the on-set protests (lots of the dialogue had to be redubbed later because activists blew whistles and made noise to ruin takes). But there are two gaping absences among the interviewees - Pacino himself and a single gay person.


One queer champion of the film its makers could have interviewed is filmmaker Bruce LaBruce ("Hustler White"), who says the film's dark tone influenced his own work.

"It was so far outside the comfort zone for Hollywood cinema, and it really had a big effect on me in terms of making me want to explore sexual boundaries and taboos in both my life and my films."

For gay audiences who still find the film politically incorrect, LaBruce adds, "I say if you don't like it, Dorothy, go back to Kansas."

(Thanks to planetout.com for story and pics)
« Last Edit: September 22, 2007, 10:48:10 pm by Kerry »
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Offline Kerry

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Re: "Cruising" - Love it or Loath it?
« Reply #1 on: September 22, 2007, 09:36:05 am »

I thought it was very dark and extremely disturbing. It left an indelible mark on me, even though I only saw it once.

Some 27 years later, I can still sing the spooky little ditty sung by the serial killer, whenever he was about to take out his next victim:

"I'm here, you're here, we're all here . . . "

It still sends an icy chill up and down my spine to this day.

It was a very brutal, ugly movie, dealing as it does with the ultimate act of depravity - the taking of another human life for the sole purpose of sexual gratification. Having said that, however, I found it absolutely unforgettable.

Because it is about to be released on DVD, and also because I am aware of spoilers, I will not reveal the ending here. Suffice to say, however, that I consider the final scene to be one of the most ambiguous in film history.

I consider it a must see component of both the Homowood and Al Pacino lixicons.

What do you think?

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Offline David In Indy

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Re: "Cruising" - Love it or Loath it?
« Reply #2 on: September 22, 2007, 10:11:33 pm »
I think I remember that movie Kerry. But I didn't see it. I think most of the movie theaters in Indiana banned that movie, so it didn't play here. That was a long time ago, and I may have my facts wrong, but I do remember a lot of uproar over that movie. I didn't see it.
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Offline Shakesthecoffecan

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Re: "Cruising" - Love it or Loathe it?
« Reply #3 on: September 22, 2007, 10:56:23 pm »
I got it on my netflix cue, I've been wanting to see it for years. Will let you know.
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Offline ifyoucantfixit

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Re: "Cruising" - Love it or Loathe it?
« Reply #4 on: September 22, 2007, 11:04:58 pm »



        Cant believe I missed this movie.  I was a giant Al Pacino fan in those years....I just missed it.  I will get it and have a look.



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Offline Kerry

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Re: "Cruising" - Love it or Loath it?
« Reply #5 on: September 22, 2007, 11:08:35 pm »
I think I remember that movie Kerry. But I didn't see it. I think most of the movie theaters in Indiana banned that movie, so it didn't play here. That was a long time ago, and I may have my facts wrong, but I do remember a lot of uproar over that movie. I didn't see it.

It's worth seeing, for the reasons I mentioned.

Should you borrow the DVD, David, I would be interested in your interpretation of the ending. I saw it with a group of friends and we all interpreted the ending differently!  ::)

It's not exactly what one would call an "entertaining" movie. In fact, it's quite disturbing. I had a similar reaction to the very first "Halloween" movie, when it was first released - darkly disturbing, yet unforgettable. Cruising is so chilling because the skill of the filmmakers seduces one into believing that it could possibly happen. If you liked "Zodiac," you'll like "Cruising."

I'll probably borrow the DVD when it's released here in Oz. But I'll be having a few drinks beforehand and will be watching certain scenes through my fingers!  :o
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Offline huntinbuddy

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Re: "Cruising" - Love it or Loathe it?
« Reply #6 on: September 22, 2007, 11:16:43 pm »
I recorded the movie Cruising when it was on Encore, or Cinemax several years ago.  I know it is boxed up with other VHS things I have never watched again.  Did watch it as I recorded it, and thought it was a bad, poorly scripted film.  I remember it as something about a serial killer of homosexuals in NYC, and Pacino as a cop going undercover to catch the killer.  Overall, I thought it was a waste of talent.   Even now after many years, I can't see the point of taking the time to watch it again, much less buy the DVD.

Offline dot-matrix

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Re: "Cruising" - Love it or Loathe it?
« Reply #7 on: November 08, 2007, 01:27:01 pm »
It's such a dark gritty menacing movie, very scary almost repulsive in it's brutality.   I've seen it twice now and found it almost painful to watch both times.  I had the same reaction to Seven.
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Offline Kerry

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Re: "Cruising" - Love it or Loathe it?
« Reply #8 on: November 09, 2007, 10:39:02 pm »
P.S.  It's been a long time so I don't really remember the ending, but I think I do recall being confused by the ending, now that you mention it.

Beware Spoilers

I am about to reveal the ending, so do not read further if you don't want the ending revealed to you.

The Al Pacino character was painted as an overtly heterosexual NYC cop who goes undercover into the seedy gay S&M scene solely so he can track-down a serial killer.

After the threat presented by the serial killer is negated by Al Pacino, it is presumed that Al Pacino will return to the straight world from whence he came, and shrug-off all the leather S&M fetish accoutrement/clothing he adopted in his undercover role.

The mystery to me is why he is seen, in the final scene of the film, back to camera, fully decked-out in black leather, heading towards a gay S&M bar. Why? The serial killer is no longer a threat. There's no reason for Al Pacino to be there.

The worst possible scenario, as I see it, is that he set-up the other guy and that he is the real serial killer.

Alternatively, he could have had an Ennis Del Mar-like epiphany and found that, once he'd tried it, he found he actually enjoyed gay sex, and is going back for more.

I thought the ambiguous ending was one of the highlights of the film. Certainly, we all left the cinema engaged in very animated discussion.

My personal favourite interpretation of the ending is that Al Pacino is the real serial killer. I think this because the final scene is shot in such a menacing, sinister light.
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Offline Lynne

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Re: "Cruising" - Love it or Loathe it?
« Reply #9 on: November 09, 2007, 11:03:20 pm »
I haven't seen this, but it's in the netflix queue.  Should come this week when I return Buffy/Season2.  :D
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Offline Kerry

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Re: "Cruising" - Love it or Loathe it?
« Reply #10 on: November 10, 2007, 01:17:21 am »
I haven't seen this, but it's in the netflix queue.  Should come this week when I return Buffy/Season2.  :D

I would be interested in reading your critique, Lynne.  :)
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Offline tampatalon

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Re: "Cruising" - Love it or Loathe it?
« Reply #11 on: November 10, 2007, 01:41:16 am »
I found "Cruising" chilling and then I found it even more chilling
when life imitated art close to home years later
http://news.tbo.com/news/MGB3JSF3C9E.html

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Offline Kerry

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Re: "Cruising" - Love it or Loathe it?
« Reply #12 on: November 10, 2007, 02:09:09 am »
I found "Cruising" chilling and then I found it even more chilling
when life imitated art close to home years later
http://news.tbo.com/news/MGB3JSF3C9E.html

TampaTalon ^">


Crikey, that's frightening.
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Offline Kerry

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Re: "Cruising" - Love it or Loathe it?
« Reply #13 on: November 11, 2007, 08:38:34 am »
Hi Kerry,

Thanks for telling us about the ending.  But I think I'd have to see it again to really make up my mind.  I sort of remember the things you're talking about, but they're kind of fuzzy.

Too bad a bunch of us couldn't watch it together and then have a talk about it after.

Gary

P.S.  The thing that really sticks out in my mind is when the undercover cop goes to the S&M bar and it turns out to be policeman night.  They showed this guy very submissively licking another guy's billy club.  OMG!  That'd make a sailor blush.   :laugh:

I only ever saw it once, when it was first realeased, all those years ago. I can recall much of it. For instance, the sinister little ditty the serial killer sings just before he kills someone. On the other hand, alas, I seem to have forgotten the scene about Police Night. Sounds like it might be the Director's attempt at some black humour, given that Pacino is an undercover cop in the movie. Another good reason to re-see it for me, just to see the look on Pacino's face when he thinks the bar has been taken over by real gay cops haha! I agree with you, Gary, it is definitely the kinda movie that's good to see with friends and discuss afterwards.   :D
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Offline smellykellyjay

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Re: "Cruising" - Love it or Loathe it?
« Reply #14 on: November 11, 2007, 05:08:59 pm »
WARNING!  Spoilers below. . . 

It's a curious movie, interesting but difficult (at least for me) to figure out.  Maybe when I've retired, I will have time to sit down and really watch it, study up on it, and draw some conclusions about it.  It's such a dark, cynical movie that I don't know if I really want to do that.  It might leave me even more spiritually bereft than I already am.  I mean, I can't watch too much “Law and Order” or “CSI” because doing that depresses me, seeing how mean, evil, and nasty people can be. 

As it is, I can't figure out if the movie is just too deep and ambiguous for me to understand or if William Friedkin was whacked out on ego or drugs or something when he made it and made a mess of a movie that only he could understand. 

There are some interesting insights into the movie on its IMDb message board.  As with the BbM board there, you have to get through some crud to get to the good stuff.  The ones I'm including below give me a little clarity on what's going on in the film though.  From what I've read there and other places, at least one of Friedkin’s big themes for the movie was identity. 

One interesting thread can be found at http://imdb.com/title/tt0080569/board/nest/20603601.  Here’s part of the first post: 

We see three murders in the film; the first at the hotel, the second in Central Park, and the last one in the peepshow.

All of the following information is taken from the final draft of Cruising.

The Hotel Killer is Stuart Richards (played by Larry Atlas)
The Hotel Victim is Loren Lukas (played by Arnaldo Santana)

The Central Park Killer is Stuart Richards (played by Richard Cox)
The Central Park Victim is Eric Rossman (played by Larry Atlas, who also played the Hotel Killer)

The Peepshow Killer is Stuart Richards (played by both Richard Cox AND Arnaldo Santana (who also played the Hotel Victim))
The Peepshow Victim is Martino (played by Steve Inwood)

The voice of Stuart Richards in the murder scenes is provided by James Sutorius, who also provided the voice for Stuart Richards' father, Jack Richards.


Does that make sense?  I've re-watched the movie, fast forwarding to see each murder scene in succession (very pleasant!) and determined that the poster is correct. 

Long story short, the killer is crazy.  He's kinda Norman Bates-ish in that he carries the voice of his parent (in this case, his father) with him as he murders, but he also takes on the identity of his victims in some sort of random fashion that I can't find rhyme or reason to.  Add to that Friedkin’s statement in interviews that there's more than one killer, and I need a flow chart or something to make heads or tails of it all. 

Another interesting thread can be found here:  http://imdb.com/title/tt0080569/board/nest/68055208.  One post that sticks in my head: 

Keep your eye on Joe Spinell throughout the film. He is one of the two abusive cops at the beginning. Later, when one of the tvs complains at the station house, Paul Sorvino's character taunts, "Do you know how many police impersonators there are out there?" So now we wonder if Spinell is a real cop or not, especially when we see him cruise Pacino in a gay bar; later outside he spooks Pacino so badly that Pacino walks off with a less-menacing cruiser. (And where do they go? Another unanswered question.)
But at the end, at the Ted Bailey homicide scene, Spinell is there in uniform. So he is a real cop after all?
This ambiguity about cops/cruisers is brought forward in a wonderfully ironic scene in which it's "Precinct Night" at one of the clubs -- all the patrons are dressed as police, except for real cop Pacino who wanders inside wearing wearing his regular street-prowling clothes!


Like Lynne, I've added “Cruising” to my Netflix queue, mainly for the commentary.  Maybe hearing that will give me more insight about it.  As it stands now, I like to view my VHS copy just for the parts with the HOT first victim Loren Lukas (played by Arnaldo Santana) – at least up until he gets killed. 
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Offline Kerry

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Re: "Cruising" - Love it or Loathe it?
« Reply #15 on: November 12, 2007, 09:25:42 am »
Add to that Friedkin’s statement in interviews that there's more than one killer, and I need a flow chart or something to make heads or tails of it all. 

 :laugh:    :laugh:    :laugh:
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