The other day I rented Cisco Pike. I was reluctant to for the same reasons I still haven't heard a solo Sandy Denny or Lindsay Buckingham album: when things sound too good to be true I fear the worst.
And just listen to how good this movie sounds: 1. Kris Kristofferson's first movie; 2. Karen Black as his girlfriend (and you get to see her tits); 3. Harry Dean Stanton is his former band mate and 4. Gene Hackman as a crazy cop who makes KK sell a bunch of pot. See? it sounds like heaven in a handbasket. So when it was a bit of a disappointment, I took it hard. It is actually a fine movie and worth seeing, not only for all the things I mentioned, but a few surprises as well.
One surprise was that KK wrote and originally performed one of my absolute favorite Willie Nelson songs “Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)” which just made me love him more and wish that polygamy was standard for working NY women.
Another surprise was the performance by Viva. I've seen her face and recognized her name as one of the Warhol ladies, but beyond that she was a mystery. In some ways she still, but let me tell you, she absolutely shines in this movie and steals it right from all those big name actors. Her biography Superstar is at the top of my list of books to read.
But what do you think?