Hardcore (1979)

Sadly Over-hyped

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

The thing that attracted me the most was the slave trade which was organized by the west which was shown in multiple films such as Khartoum by Charlton Heston and Ashanti by Michael Caine in this movies it was shown that third world countries were the ones that had bad behaviors but this film depicts the other side of the world ; A father whose daughter disappeared found out that his daughter has become a commodity to some people who are earning money off of her abusing her body . One of the most scenes for me was when the girl had to pay George C. Scott to talk to her over the phone and she was naked with only a glass wall between them ; I did not know that body trade could reach this limit .

During the VHS revolution back in the 80's I remember the box cover for this movie on the video store shelves but back then it just wasn't interesting enough to take much notice. And so this is one of those movies I'd never seen until now, perhaps due to the adult themes portrayed, it never appeared on British television, at least as far as I know.So I dialled it up online and being someone who prefers older movies and the aesthetic of celluloid finally got around to viewing this rather downbeat TV style movie. Although the director Paul Schrader also wrote the screenplay for Taxi Driver, this movie has none of the surreal fantasy aspects of that movie. Hardcore just feels like the sort of humdrum social drama you would find on TV except with an A list Oscar winning actor in it.Don't get me wrong, this movie does have its moments, some moments comedic and some sleazy sequences which aim to raise the excitement just a bit. And there are times when this kind of movie hits the right notes, perhaps when you're in a somewhat more thoughtful and relaxed mood.George C Scott does look a bit out of place in this movie, not entirely comfortable I thought and perhaps took the role thinking that Schrader's previous involvement with Taxi Driver might help reset his career in a more upward trajectory. Sadly it didn't!

George C. Scott is effective in this sordid tale, playing Jake VanDorn, a conservative and religious business owner in the Midwest. His daughter Kristen (Ilah Davis) goes on a "Calvinist Convention" to various other points in the U.S., including Bellflower, California. Soon he's heard that she's gone missing, and disgusted with the apparent uselessness of California police, he first hires a private detective, Andy Mast (Peter Boyle). It isn't that long before Mast unearths a bargain basement pornographic film that stars Kristen. Heartsick and enraged, Jake decides to do his own sleuthing, navigating the seedy California underworld, and eventually hooking up with a part time hooker / part time adult film actress, Niki (Season Hubley), whom he hires to assist in the search.Writer / director Paul Schrader, unlike his uptight main character, isn't afraid to explore the whole idea of sex, and the attitude that less judgmental people have towards it. The way that he immerses his hero in the non stop array of seedy environments is never less than fascinating. Some viewers can easily find it sad, and yes, off putting as well, but his material is grimly compelling nevertheless. It's all brilliantly captured on film by a talented team including production designer Paul Sylbert and cinematographer Michael Chapman. The story does have a message in it about learning to be more open minded and not so critical towards others, something that Jake has realized by the end. This is driven home by the whole relationship between Jake and Niki, which is nicely developed by Schrader, Scott, and Hubley. While the tone is mostly fairly serious, there is some humor to be found as Jake sees that his confrontational approach in pornographic places of business doesn't work, and tries ruses like masquerading as an adult filmmaker.The cast is superb. Scott anchors the tale with his sober performance, Hubley is just wonderful, and Boyle is fun to watch (in an interesting twist, Mast is actually rather sleazy himself). Dick Sargent lends a warm presence as Jakes' brother-in-law, who's concerned for his safety. There's a parade of familiar faces for viewers to enjoy: Gary Graham, Marc Alaimo, Hal Williams, Roy London, Bibi Besch, Tracey Walter, Reb Brown, and Ed Begley Jr. It's a truly gut wrenching moment when Jake recognizes his daughter in the $200 stag film, and Scott just acts the hell out of it.Some people take issue with the resolution (and, admittedly, the character who's more or less established as the villain of the piece is barely in the film), but at least Schrader refrains from making it conventionally Hollywood-happy. There's some hope for the future, but also a nagging doubt. The actors play it well.Overall, a good, solid drama.Eight out of 10.

Hardcore is written and directed by Paul Schrader and stars George C. Scott, Peter Boyle, Season Hubley, Ilah Davis and Dick Sargent.Wealthy businessman Jake Van Dorn's(George C. Scott)quiet, middle class life is turned upside down when his teenage daughter Kristen(Ilah Davis)fails to return home from her church convention trip to California. Jake hires sleazy private eye, Andy Mast(Peter Boyle)to find her after the Police fail to get any leads. Mast eventually spots her in a cheap porn film. Jake heads to the big city and with the help of streetwise hooker Nikki(an unforgettable Season Hubley)tries to track his daughter down and bring her home.Scott excels as Jake, a quiet, religious family man who is confronted with big city sleaze and violence and can't believe what he sees. In the city the intimate act of sex is a very open(public)act. Sex in one form or another is available 24 hours a day on pretty much every street corner. He is horrified by this and then realises he has to become what he hates to find his daughter.Scott completely changes his performance when Jake goes undercover as a porn director(complete with an awful 70's wig and moustache).Here Jake's inner rage takes over and he becomes violent towards those he finds have links with Kristen and he won't become calm until he finds her.Many of the films funniest and most poignant moments are those between Jake and Nikki.He can't understand her life and she can't get her head around his Calvinist beliefs. She hopes he'll get her out of the street life but he(although never forgetting her)only cares about his daughter. In the end Nikki is just another part of the big city that Jake can't relate to.With strong performances especially from Scott, Hardcore is a powerful film experience. It doesn't shy away from the desperation and cheapness of this life or the sleaze of the porn industry, by not showing it as glamorous or exciting Schrader deserves much praise. He tells it like it is and for that the film has a much greater impact.