The Age of Commercialism

Expected more

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

This 1973 film directed by Alan J Pakula & written by Alvin Sargent (two top names in film) has finally been released to DVD.I could have waited another 36 years to see it.It was made in Spain & the cinematography & settings are excellent, This is the only reason the rating is this high.The script is atrociously bad, 16 minutes into the film it is telegraphed that Maggie Smith has a deadly illness.SPOILERS AHEAD.We first meet Timothy Bottoms (he was 22 at the time) as an aimless college student about to go off & find himself in Spain. Of course they meet,Maggie has a bad first impression (thts a cliché isn't it),They fall in love & shortly after fall in bed with each other (another cliché). They are two of many clichés,including a tiny trailer that leaks in a' downpour.I do not like telling spoilers BUT the script is so bad,it is my duty to tell.The acting by both Maggie & Timothy is first class.It is a shame they are in a third class film. The film is a very long 110 minutes, The rest of cast are either very minor or 2 cameos by two Spanish stars.Again I say beautiful sets & scenery with good acting by the 2 stars.Ratings: ** (out of 4) 63 Points (out of 100) IMDb 5 (out of 10)

I was thoroughly charmed by this movie when it first came out and have been recommending it for years. I can't understand why it hasn't had a video release. Maggie Smith is brilliant, hilarious and touching in this unlikely love story Gem. This movie is worth a viewing if only for the moment Smith comes out of a Port-A-Johnny with toilet paper stuck to her foot. Her physical comedy is unsurpassed. Timothy Bottoms performance as an angst-filled youth is right on. Bottoms, in my opinion, does not get enough credit for the wonderful actor he is. "Love and Pain..." is reminiscent of "Harold and Maude" though not quite as quirky. I hope we all get to view it on video very soon.

This is a great low key film. Maggie Smith is wonderful in this off beat drama/comedy. She did this I believe after " The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie " but her performance is clearly up to that standard. It really is a very sweet love story with the ups and downs of a relationship between Maggie and Timothy Bottoms. His performance is also very good and kept very low key much like the film in general. I don't know why it is not available on DVD or VHS? I happen to have recorded it off of a Canadian Broadcast years ago. I have also tried searching a number of rental house to no avail. If Mr. Pakula reads this please find away to make this little gem of a film available to everyone. Thank You.

I've been looking for a copy of this wonderful movie for several years. I can't imagine why it's never been released on VHS or DVD. Saw it originally in '73, caught it again on some late night movie channel. Haven't seen it since, but the memory lingers on. I STILL have a crush on Timothy Bottoms, thanks to this sweet and romantic movie! Maggie Smith is also wonderful--such a great actress.This is a charming story with fun little vignettes (Maggie Smith exiting a "loo" unknowingly trailing toilet paper stuck to her heel) and clever dialogue throughout, set against a trip through beautiful scenery by bus and bicycle.