"Atlantic City" is a character study that falls short of expectations. While the characters are interesting, their actions are not always credible. The film's message is unclear as well.

Sally (Susan Sarandon) is training to become a casino dealer, and dreams of escaping her dreary routine to live a cultured life, perhaps in Paris. Lou (Burt Lancaster) is an aging small-time hood, financially dependent upon a miserly and abusive elderly woman (Kate Reid). Lancaster is in love with Sarandon, although she doesn't know it.

Lancaster still has ambitions of becoming a
big-shot. He stumbles upon a financial windfall
(a large amount of cocaine, and a customer who
badly wants it). He promptly changes his
lifestyle, living for the moment and playing
sugar daddy to Sarandon. Sarandon gladly goes
along for the ride, using Lancaster for all he
can give her.

There are some spoilers in the remainder of the
review.

"Atlantic City" has some problems with the
actions of the main characters. We are to believe
that Sarandon poses topless at length in front of
an unshuttered window every night, and that
Lancaster is able to peep at her unseen, every
night.

Sarandon's husband Dave (Robert Joy) is the
lowest form of street-life vermin. Why would she
have married him? Her stated reason is to escape
Saskatchewan, but there are better ways of doing
that. Why would she let him move in with her
again?

Joy cannot sell his stolen cocaine, because he
looks like the weasel he is. But he could find
another customer, or clean up his act, rather
than putting complete trust in stranger
Lancaster, who could steal the cocaine or the
money, or report him to police.

Joy is brutally murdered by hoods. I don't have
problems with the murder, but the hoods make no
effort to get Joy to reveal where the cocaine
and/or money is, a subject that they would soon
be fixated with.

Lancaster tells the hoods that he has the cocaine
and money, ostensibly to protect Sarandon and
promote himself as a big-shot, but he has to have
known the negative consequences of this action.
He is also fond of telling everyone that he has
just killed two gangsters, which does not seem
credible even given his need for recognition.

Reid is apparently bedridden throughout the film,
but is up and walking without problems in the
final scene.

"Atlantic City" was shot on location in New
Jersey and has a largely American cast, but is a
Canadian production.

The consensus on "Atlantic City" is that it is an
outstanding character study. Since my opinion is
definitely in the minority, you may wish to see
it yourself to make up your own mind. (50/100)



Recommended: No