Woodyanders Charismatic small-time thief Bobby (a terrific and electric performance by Al Pacino) meets and falls in love with the dejected Helen (superbly played with aching vulnerability by Kitty Winn). Their lives fall apart and start to spiral out of control due to their mutual addiction to heroin. Director Jerry Schatzberg wisely uses a plain and unadorned naturalistic style for maximum authenticity, makes excellent and evocative use of grungy New York City locations, and vividly captures a harrowing sense of raw desperation. The hard-hitting script by Joan Didion and John Gregory Dunne pulls zero punches in its stark and nihilistic depiction of the bleak reality of drug addiction in which people willingly debase themselves for the sake of a fix and rat out their friends to the cops in order to avoid doing time in jail. The doomed codependent romantic relationship between the two damaged main characters gives this film a heart-wrenching poignancy while the uncompromising downbeat ending packs a devastating punch. Moreover, the uniformly fantastic acting by the top-drawer cast rates as another substantial asset: Pacino and Winn are first-rate in the lead roles, plus there are praiseworthy supporting contributions from Alan Vint as browbeating narc Hotch, Richard Bright as Bobby's slimy no-count hustler brother Hank, Kiel Martin as the strung-out Chico, Warren Finnerty as the fidgety Sammy, and Raul Julia as struggling artist Marco. Joe Santos and Paul Sorvino pop up in small roles . Adam Holender's no-frills cinematography further enhances the gritty documentary-style realism. An absolute powerhouse.

noahturks The dire content of 'The Panic...' is groundbreaking. Al Pacino is great as a street urchin in this early role, a precursor to his 'Dog Day Afternoon' performance. In this one, he's just as passionate and intuitive, but the script hinders the effect. Kitty Winn has an old-time-y feel, like she was meant to stay in the 70's, and film-wise, she kind of did as this and 'The Exorcist' are her most famous roles. She was solid here though. Instead of a clear plot, this movie's more impressionistic with it's storytelling, revealing more brushstrokes as it moves along, and I can appreciate that.The weak links were the dialogue, which was lame at times, like with Pacino's movie brother's line about, "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" being particularly offensive on the lame-o-meter. Then some of the addicts spouted a few too many buzzwords, though the way they only had drugs, sex, or crime on their minds did ring true in my experience. The actor who played Hotch was expressionless the entire film. He was a pile of tapioca pudding warbling around, and he brought the energy down with him whenever he came on-screen. I understand that acting, especially in grittier, 'street-life' films, is meant to be naturalistic, but he was boring, which I can understand as I've fallen into that trap too: "Am I being too theatrical and demonstrative?" No, you're really not, Hotch.

MartinHafer "The Panic in Needle Park" is an incredibly unpleasant film...which is what you'd expect about a film that centers around two heroin addicts living in New York. So, if you are looking for a film to make you smile or a good date film, do NOT see this movie! In fact, that is the biggest problem with the picture...most folks won't wanna see two people slowly destroying themselves. Most folks watch films to be entertained. Now I am NOT saying it's a bad film and it might be a good one to show teens, as it shows how wretched a life hooked on drugs can be...though there are a few more recent films which make drug use seem a lot more unpleasant, such as the brilliant but hard to watch "Requiem for a Dream".The film has very little in the way of plot. It simply shows two addicts who are in love, Bobby and Helen (Al Pacino and Kitty Winn), as they slowly degenerate...sinking lower and lower and lower through the course of the movie. At first, Bobby is very glib...and fun to be with and Helen seems rather innocent. Naturally, this doesn't last and both sink deeper and deeper into their habit. Bobby claims he's a 'chipper' (a casual user who is not addicted) but after a while he's dealing and overdoses. Helen begins turning tricks to buy their next fix. Unpleasant, to be sure, but mostly realistic. When they shot up, it looks real...and the language is street language...nasty and crude. But the only problem I saw is that both LOOKED healthy through the course of the film and the makeup could have been better...enabling them not only to act like addicts but to look more like them. Well made but I am strongly warning you...it's not a movie for kids or for the squeamish.

leplatypus So I finish my Pacino's DVD with his 1st guest-star movie. It's funny to see how great actors begin their career by playing small losers (see our national French Gégé Dipardiou) and how her fine co-star won prize at Cannes festival and has actually disappear in limbos.The first half hour is great as we see a young Pacino, lively, funny, in love but as soon as the couple starts going into dope, the movie turns too much shabby for me. The movie spares nothing about drug addiction, especially the crude injections, the terrible health and social effect and the more terrible need and run for cash to buy it. I never understand why people turn into drugs and the movie doesn't offer an explanation as well: considering all those bad sides that they can notice on their friends, why aren't they disgusted about it ? Maybe they face a biggest pain but it's not very clear...The director has a good eye as the street of NYC hasn't been so energized and the interior shots close to claustrophobic. It's not a surprise that he came from photography and had the same feeling that Lynch with his paintings: moving the frame to tell a story!