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| DIRECTED BY |
| Jerry Schatzberg
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| STARRING |
| Gene Hackman |
| Al Pacino |
| Dorothy Tristan |
| Ann Wedgeworth |
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Perhaps, in a way, �Scarecrow� is an extremely modern fairy tale, showing us the grit, the sordidness, and the overall stench of society as it is for two drifters who�ve been knocked wayward while trying to find a satisfying stance in this insanely unforgiving game called �life� while also always making sure to provide a glimmer of hope at the end of the tunnel. It�s often funny too, so what is �Scarecrow� exactly? Perhaps it�s something of a seriocomedy, but it just seems wrong for a film to ostensibly deal with such philosophical issues as the meaning of existence and then also throw slapstick gags in our face at every opportunity.
�Scarecrow� defines filmic whimsicality. It�s as if Schatzberg and crew set out to simply have fun with this whole thing, and the result is both entertaining at times and also plodding at times. Naturally, as a �road movie,� it�s dialogue heavy, and much interesting dialogue is exchanged. It�s interesting largely due to the fact that Pacino and Hackman manage to act in such a free-spirited way that none of it even seems scripted. But there are also downsides to basing your whole film upon one concept, downsides that make even the film itself seem wayward and often rather pointless.
The sheer abruptness at which �Scarecrow� ends is certainly a testament to the free-wheeling ways of early 70s cinema, but it doesn�t really help out with portraying any sort of relevant message either. The film successfully establishes two very interesting characters in Max and Francis, but then it lets itself get sidetracked too often with stupid humor.
Granted, I will not soon forget seeing young Al Pacino running like a madman through that clothing store, nor will I soon forget seeing life-weary Gene Hackman tearing off his many layers of clothing in that patron-filled restaurant (as much as I would like to.) But what I�ll remember most of all when I think back to this film is how close it came to saying some really interesting things about life and its many adversities, but then just decided to poke fun at itself in the end.
