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List Price: $19.98 | | Label: Warner Home Video
Salesrank: 45304
Released: May 22, 2007 |
| Our Price: $32.50 |
| Used Price: $32.49 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
A paroled burglar tries to get a job and keep on the straight-and-narrow. His hard-core parole officer has different ideas and sends him back to jail. When he gets out again, he goes after the parole officer, steals his car and returns to a life of crime.
Description of Straight Time:
Straight Time is notable for one of Dustin Hoffman's best--and least-seen--performances, as a lifelong criminal who, as a parolee, struggles to go straight. But it's a losing battle right from the jump. In less than a week, he's had a scuffle with his parole officer (M. Emmet Walsh) and is on the dodge, looking for a score. But you know that this guy has only two directions he can go in life--and that's either back to prison or into an early grave. A startling depiction of a surprisingly likable sociopath, this Ulu Grosbard film is a dark meditation on one man's firm--if skewed--values and features Hoffman in a relentless, wiry portrayal. The rest of the cast is equally strong, including the always-reliable Harry Dean Stanton, then-newcomer Gary Busey, and an unknown Kathy Bates. --Marshall Fine
Straight Time Reviews:
Psychological Profile 
2009-09-03 - I remember when "Straight Time" came out. I assumed I was going to see it but I never did until last weekend. Certainly Dustin Hoffman was near the top of his career at the time but "Straight Time" seemed to disappear after its' initial release. I actually was only able to see it by renting it. It's too bad that it has faded away because this is a good movie. It didn't really hit me until after it was over and I reflected on the odd personality variations in Hoffman's character, Max Dembo. Dustin Hoffman, the writer, and director all put together a very compelling portrait of a career criminal. I wasn't expecting it so I don't want to give anything away but the main character goes through a lot of subtle and not so subtle changes. He reverts back and forth often enough that we don't know which Dembo we're looking at. The supporting cast assists in this personality profile with special kudos to Harry Dean Stanton.
I don't profess to know the career criminal mind but I could buy into the subtle schizophrenia that I witnessed in "Straight Time". To some extent the role of the parole officer is designed to suggest Dembo as a victim but ultimately, Dembo becomes a victim of himself. Hoffman in "Straight Time" may not be the equal of Cagney in "White Heat" or Bogart in "Treasure of the Sierra Madre" but "Straight Time" is definitely worth watching because of his performance.
Little known very good crime drama from the 70s 
2009-07-29 - Straight Time is a film directed by Ulu Grosbard in 1978 and starring Dustin Hoffman, Theresa Russell, Gary Busey, Harry Dean Stanton, M. Emmet Walsh, and Kathy Bates. This is one of the pleasant surprises you'd come to once in a while when you watch a movie you never heard of and realize that it is a strong picture overlooked upon its release and almost unknown which deserves recognition and respect. Straight Time tells about a convict (Hoffman) on parole in LA trying to fit in the supposedly "normal" world. It is an adaptation of Edward Bunker's novel No Beast So Fierce which he wrote serving time in San Quentin State Prison for the parole violation while being the youngest inmate ever in the infamous prison that houses California's only death row for male inmates, the largest in the United States. Written in the 50s, the book was published in 1973, and Dustin Hoffman bought the rights for adaptation. The author, who is also a co-writer of the script, wrote the book based on his own life, and there is a lot of Bunker in Max Dembo, the main character of the novel and the film. The film belongs to Dustin Hoffman who plays Max Dembo, the man trying to do the right thing but who was pulled back in the crime world because of many reasons, one being the over-zealous sadistic parole officer Earl Frank (incomparable M. Emmet Walsh in yet another strong performance as an amoral law servant. Actually, one of the film's few weaknesses is Walsh's disappearance from the screen after 30 minutes or so. His and Hoffman's scenes together are the best in the film). Roger Ebert had created "Stanton-Walsh Rule," which states that "no movie featuring either Harry Dean Stanton or M. Emmet Walsh in a supporting role can be altogether bad." I wonder if the famous critic saw Straight Time featuring both wonderful actors and what he thinks of it. I'd add that besides Stanton-Walsh, all supporting actors gave strong performances. The David Shire's soundtrack that grabbed me from the very first note and pulled me in immediately is great - catchy, rhythmic, and a bit disturbing, The opening scene of the film with Max Dembo (Hoffman) simply walking on the streets of LA after been locked in for six years for armed robbery with Shire's music playing belongs to very memorable moments in film. There is another of many outstanding scenes later in the film, unforgettably funny and satisfying scene of the just revenge that Max took on Earl Frank (Walsh). To sum up, the film is accurate, dark, and pessimistic as well as entertaining. I highly recommended it.
4.5/5
Comes very,very close to being worthy of cult status
2009-01-04 - Straight Time is a "would be" cult classic that just misses the mark. The curious riddle being; it's very difficult to suss out exactly WHY it doesn't quite reach the finish line. Still, the excellent script, performances, atmosphere add up to a great little film that absolutely deserves a serious cinematic re-evaluation. Many others agree, and I recall Roger Ebert touting it the same way I do here. Hoffman,Busey,Russell, et all deserve kudos for great,great acting!Walsh too as a creepy probation officer. Why do critics gush and gush over tripe like PULP FICTION and ignore films like this? A worthy addition to your dvd library.
great criminal-character study.
2008-09-07 - Where to start......i remember my 1st viewing and i was shocked by all the great secondary roles. Harry dean stanton,m emmet walsh,kathy bates and gary busey(and his son playing his son)in their 1st film roles. I don't include theresa russell because she is'nt in the same league. Written by eddie bunker(reservoir dogs) and directed by ulu grosbard(last exit to brooklyn) it's an unflinching look at the everyday life of a career criminal.The camera meanders and ponders these questions at a smooth pace. If you think this is slow,then you can't appreciate why 70's films were so great.No big explosions or gunfights,just great storytelling.I almost forgot.....(my opinion),dustin hoffman's greatest performance ever. Harry dean stanton is a revelation.
great, great, great movie
2008-07-07 - dustin hoffman, is one hell of an actor, this is one movie , one movie i would recomend to any body, make sure you watch this one , from 1978, thanks a milion.
