Just perfect...

Excellent but underrated film

It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

I'm not a fan of Adam Rifkin's lighter, more commercial stuff ("The Chase", "Detroit Rock City") but I was blown away by "The Dark Backward", which is one of the darkest, most transgressive contemporary films I've seen and that made me seek out "Night at the Golden Eagle", which I also really liked. Golden Eagle has the same obsession with darker than dark, hell-on-earth textures as Dark Backward. I'm not sure how Rifkin does it, but I've seen few other filmmakers who really capture that sense that you are truly looking into the bowels of hell. Even David Lynch doesn't quite go this far down.Basic plot involves two old-time cons, one having just been released from prison. The other has been living a straight life at the titular fleabag motel, home to prostitutes, geriatric Hollywood hoofers, and other assorted weirdos and drug addicts. The two old cons have a plan to head to Vegas in the morning and start fresh lives as blackjack dealers, but when a hooker ends up dead in their room, things get complicated. There's also a subplot involving a very young prostitute being shown the tricks of the trade by a motherly older prostitute (played by Ann Magnuson).The film is actually a pretty big downer. Some definite shades of Bukowski and Hubert Selby Jr. Comic relief comes in the form of a b.s.-spouting, television obsessional (played wonderfully by old-time soul great Sam Moore) and a much put-upon desk clerk ("EVERYONE needs something! I'm out of milk, fer Christ's sake!").More than anything this makes me wish Rifkin would stick to the darker, textural stuff he has such an undeniable gift for creating.

Night at the Golden Eagle is a gritty film, yet gritty isn't half the word to describe it. Even though films such as Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, The Usual Suspects and even the mediocre Way of the Gun have all been praised for their gritty atmosphere, Night at the Golden Eagle blows them all away with a gritty atmosphere that perfectly replicates the locations depicted in great novels from pulp legends such as Mickey Spillane and Dashiell Hammett. Night at the Golden Eagle is pure pulp, with an emphasis of illustrating the means streets and back alleys themselves rather than the story of the two old ex-convicts and the other people in between. The result is a fantastic movie, that utterly shows what life in a slum is like and the lives it creates for the poor people that cross upon its path.However, viewers seeing this movie should not look for story, because it is non-existent or weak at best. The story of the two-old ex-cons is never really developed and leaves the audience somewhat confused since the director wants to be "Tarantino-like" and ambitious and switches between three sets of characters. While the story of the whores, both old and young, is a nice interlude, the emphasis on the two old black men is rather pointless. It is nice the director decided to show the laziness of some people, yet a good chunk of the movie is just dedicated to the old man watching TV, which deprives the audience of further understanding the more important characters such as the whores and ex-cons.Yet despite this strange blunder by the director/writer with the story, the acting is great. The two men do a great job at their parts, giving great and quite believable performances as the two ex-cons, with both giving great mixtures of cynicism and paranoia in their dialog. Their acting is truly enjoyable, and makes the audience only yearn for more. The young girl does an admirable job as the young whore, for she constantly is the only reminder of innocence throughout all the chaos and sleaziness of the hotel. Hence, her performance sticks out greatly and is a sleeper performance that deserves some recognition, but probably won't because of the serious holes in the plot.It's a shame this movie isn't more recognized because it is a fantastic film with a fantastic atmosphere that literally puts the settings in Tarantino and Guy Ritchie flicks to shame. While movies these days tend to be more glamorous and over the top, this movie is the epitome of an indie film, breaking the rules in all sorts of ways in order to depict an environment that only great pulp authors dream about. The story is disappointing, yet after watching the film, the audience really doesn't care about the film. The only thing stuck in their minds is the maniacal characters, the sleazy hotel and its dirty surroundings. This is truly a masterpiece "pulp indie" film that should be seen by any kind of "crime fiction" lover, and shows audiences there is more to "pulp" than a few guns, broads and some "Tarantino-esque" dialog. Not to say that I don't love the man, but a little variety is necessary, and this film fits the bill perfectly.My analysis: If you consider yourself a fan of the "Pulp" genre, see this or you're truly a "pulp" poser.

I saw this movie the other night on IFC. I think this movie is meant to show you what life is like at seedy hotel like The Golden Eagle, rather then concentrate on Mic and Tommy's bid for a better life in Las Vegas.I know first hand what these hotels are like, because in the late summer of 1987, I did a research paper for school and stayed at a place called The Imperial located at 208th and Broadway in NYC. I spent 5 nights as part of my project, and some days was never more scared in my life. There were all kinds of low life and scum that lived there. Most of the room were rented by the hour, for $18 by the owner, a dirt bag named Pablo, at least that was what he was called. He sat behind 3 inch bullet proof glass and everything cost something. There was a nice touch where Rifkin has the front desk guy at the Golden Eagle selling cigarettes for $1 per smoke. Pablo rented you the room for the hour and then charged you for the key, sheets, towels. Prostitutes that lived there or used the rooms all had to report to the pimp who stood in the lobby, who was about 6'6 , covered with tattoos, was missing an eye and carried one of those 'Crocodile' Dundee knives. I think Vinnie Jones character Rodan was tame compared to this guy. I never got his name, but I tried often to avoid this guy. The 3rd night I was there, he really smashed some John's head in.I paid $8.25 a night for a room the 1st two nights, and $15 a night for the last 3 for a "delux room" which meant it had a bathroom in it and black & white TV. Most of the other rooms where rented out to the bums who washed windshields and managed to get $8.25. Pablo on several nights allowed anyone to sleep on a couch for $5 and could use a bathroom for $3,each time. The garbage was piled high and the place was rank. I learned from an old guy named Walt, who had lived there 10 yrs, Think of Mr. Maynard, that the place was once great in the 40s and 50s. Some of the old timers where just cursed with living too long, as their pensions and social security was not enough to sustain any sort of life.I befriended a hooker named Isablla, who about 15, maybe 16 who crashed in my room 2 nights, then followed me home after my week was up. I sent her away with $200 and drove her to NJ. I can't say if any ex-cons or recently released cons lived among the others, several residents were minimum wage employees. Minimum wage in 1987 was $3.35 per hour. A bunch were old, some really old. There were bathrooms at the end of all halls which were the only ones on the floors accept for the 4th floor where 'delux rooms" where offered. Hardly any showers worked, and most of the toilets were over flowing.I thought the movie moved slowly, but I think that was intentional to show the dead end life. There is nothing to do there, most residents are too afraid to venture out side and trouble is everywhere. The part with the dead body in the back alley is so true and Tommy's line "she's a hooker, no one is gonna miss er' " is true. There was one OD while I was there and another wino dead in the stairwell. The cops were nearly invisible, occasionally showing up to harass a pusher or hooker. The last night, one guy ran up the fire escape to get away from the cops and jumped from one roof to the next. Most of the windows were broken and the IRT was running all night. Remember " The Blues Brothers"? I went back 10 years later in 1998, and found that the place was now in control of the Catholic Church and was still a flop house, where bums could only stay a few nights then had to move on. The nuns kept the place as clean as can be, at least the stench was replaced by a Strong disinfectant smell. One nun told me that the building was a crack den before it was raided and then abandoned for almost a year before the church took over. Nowbody had an idea what happened to Pablo, or Walt or if Isabella ever came back.If you want to know what life is like in cities where this can be your only housing alternative, then I recommend this movie.

Geez, what a dark picture! I mean, this film tries to be as ugly as humanly possible. We are either seeing sweaty old men trying to dispose of dead hookers or we are seeing a 15 year old girl sell herself to hideous looking bums. The seedy dump where it all takes place looks and feels like a septic tank. Just watching what transpires here makes you want to take a long hot shower. I suppose I was semi-interested in the movie and that is sad. Because there was nothing redeeming in it. Just a base tale for people with morbid curiosities. I am not sure if that is art or just pathetic. Moreover, I do have some problems with some of the technical aspects. I mean you have these two guys screaming at each other on how to get rid of this dead body in this dive. They are worried that people will find them out, yet they are screaming in a dive with obvious paper thin walls. I also have a problem with our young white hooker, who seems to be soiling herself, not just because she is selling her body, but because she loses her virginity to a very dark black man and then a hispanic. It seems somewhat racist in that regard. As if selling herself to an attractive, young white man would not have been as bad? No, this film just wants to be ugly. There are no promises or hope for redemption. There is no brighter future, just an abyss.