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Straight Time (1978)

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Average Rating: 7.9/10
Reviews Counted: 5
Fresh: 5 | Rotten: 0

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Release Date: Mar 18, 1978 Wide

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Average Rating: 3.8/5
User Ratings: 1,523

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Movie Info

Paroled criminal Max Dembo (Dustin Hoffman) is compelled to withstand the calculated cruelties of slimy parole officer Earl Frank (M. Emmet Walsh). The more Max tries to go straight, the more he is defeated by circumstance or hectored by the sadistic Frank. It becomes clear after a while that neither Max nor his fellow ex-cons will be able to survive looking for legitimate work. Max is too "far gone" as a human being to succeed at anything other than crime. He goes back to his old thieving ways,

R, 1 hr. 54 min.

Drama

Directed By: Ulu Grosbard

In Theaters: Mar 18, 1978 Wide

On DVD: May 22, 2007

Warner Bros. Pictures

Cast

Dustin Hoffman
Max Dembo
Theresa Russell
Jenny Mercer
Gary Busey
Willy Darin
Harry Dean Stanton
Jerry Schue
M. Emmet Walsh
Earl Frank
Rita Taggart
Carol Schue
Kathy Bates
Selma Darin
Sandy Baron
Manny
Jacob Busey
Henry Darin
Edward Bunker
Mickey
James Ray
Jewelry Store Manager
Stuart I. Berton
Salesman No. 1
Barry Cahill
Salesman No. 2
Corey Rand
Carlos
Fran Ryan
Cafe Owner
Peter Jurasik
Bank Teller
Peter Kwong
Grocery Clerk
David Kelly
Counter Man
John Gilgreen
Bank Guard
Tina Menard
Hotel Manager
Betty Jane Howarth
Employment Clerk
Emily LaRue
Girl
John C. Colton
2nd Beach Boy

Critic Reviews for Straight Time

All Critics (11) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (7) | Rotten (0) | DVD (6)

Dustin Hoffman finally gave the unquestionably great performance everyone had been expecting from him. Unfortunately, few people saw it.

April 9, 2007 Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com

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Rob Gonsalves

eFilmCritic.com

Straight Time packs a punch--thanks to the intense and well-modulated performance by Dustin Hoffman.

January 24, 2004 Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice

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Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

Spirituality and Practice

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Audience Reviews for Straight Time

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Based on a novel by Edward Bunker, Straight Time is possibly one of the most realistic cinematic probes into the sociopathic psyche of the career criminal. Great cast, strong script and solid direction by Ulu Grosbard. Not for a moment are you allowed to suspect that hoodlums might be smart or attractive, or that

March 3, 2011

El Hombre Invisible

Super Reviewer

I watch a lot of movies and most of them are decent. A lot of the time I've got to convince myself that I didn't just waste a couple hours of my time or I'll have to dig for reasons as to why I liked a particular movie but whatever. But I'll endure long stretches of mediocrity because I know there are movies like

November 12, 2010