Monday, August 20, 2018

Obsessive Behavior







This is my entry in the Lee Grant Blogathon hosted by Angelman' Place and Realweegiemidget Reviews








Ernest Lehman, the multi- Academy Award nominee as a screenwriter directed only one movie in his entire life.  Portnoy's Complaint, the novel by Philip Roth about a sex-obsessed middle-aged man was probably the least likely title to make into a movie.  After all, the novel itself was just a one-joke monologue about a boy (and young man) and his obsession with jerking off. 

The book itself had many problems when it was published in 1969.  Two things that got people in an uproar was the candid treatment of the subject of masturbation, and the somewhat offensive treatment of Jewish identity.  (it should be noted that Roth himself was from a Jewish background, so his irreverence comes from direct experience and is not entirely a derogatory racist view.)  The book was banned in Australia (there's a new one on me...)

The film did not fare very well both at the box office and with the critics.  Roger Ebert's review was pretty much indicative of the general critical revie in that he called it "a true fiasco".  His main vitriol was aimed at the casting of Lee Grant as Sophie Portnoy, Alexander's mother.  He seems to think a better casting would have been Shelley Winters.  Myself, I don't know.  I've only seen the Jewish mother character (or maybe "caricature") maybe ½ a dozen times in movies (and most of them were in movies by Mel Brooks.)  I don't know if she's got the accent right, but the character of the Jewish mother seems to be OK.  Jack Somack as Jack, Alexander's father is better, but I think Grant does a decent job of it.








Portnoy's Complaint (1972):

Alexander Portnoy (Richard Benjamin) is a man obsessed with sex.  We get this from the very start of the movie.  A middle-aged man who hasn't progressed much further from his adolescent immaturity when it comes to women.  Witness the fact that he gets his female client (he's a lawyer) to movie to a different chair just so he can fantasize about her being naked.



At a session with his psychiatrist (D. P. Barnes, who has no lines but just sits there with a pensive look on his face as Portnoy goes off on his fantasies), Portnoy delves into his past and his many attempts to find ways to get off.  This movie is not as graphic as American Pie, but it sure as hell isn't much less raunchier in terms of what is described.



Much of the first part of the movie deals with Alexander's attempts to pleasure himself while his mother frets over what he's doing in the bathroom.  She's convinced he's been eating (gak) hot dogs down at the local teenage hangout.  (The fact that he tells her his problem is recurring diarrhea may have something to do with that.)



The main part of the movie takes place in Alexander's most recent past, when he hooks up with a non-Jewish girl, Mary Jane,  whom he calls "Monkey" (Karen Black).  Monkey is a nightmare to someone like me.  Sure she is just as obsessed with sex as is Alexander, but she has a neurotic side to her.



Not that Alexander Portnoy is an innocent bystander in his own downfall.  Portnoy is just as annoying  in his obsession as is Mary Jane.  One can't help but waffle between the idea that the two should part ways and that the two deserve each other.




I'm not going to sit here and tell you this is a classic and a great movie.  It's not.  But I'm also not going to tell you you should head for the nearest exit posthaste.  It has it's moments, especially if you like Richard Benjamin's typical innocence.   And Lee Grant is worth a view as the mother.  But it's not worth writing home about.  I recommend the novel if you just must know the story.  You could probably do a better movie in your head.

Quiggy



10 comments:

  1. Hi Quiggy, thank you so much for joining our blogathon festivities with what looks like a quirky and entertaining movie.

    I have never seen it, but interestingly I feel I have, since Richard Benjamin also stars in the film version of the Philip Roth novel Goodbye Columbus opposite Ali Magraw, and this movie and its protagonist seem to have very much the same wry-late60s-Jewish humor vibe. Now I have to see it.

    I have no problem picturing Lee Grant as a Jewish mother, because I think she IS a Jewish mother, and has played one more than once. It's totally in her wheelhouse!

    Thanks again for participating--now I have to get ready for our Gender Bending blogathon in a few weeks!!
    -Chris

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've got that blogathon on my mind. As well as a review of "Longtime Companion" (which I just finished watching earlier today).

      Benjamin has always been interesting to watch. and Lee Grant plays the part she has pretty well, too. Thanks for reading.

      Delete
  2. In a long and varied career, not every movie is going to be a winner, but the role sounds like a good fit for Lee Grant and she is always worth watching.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've never been one to mince words (or to tell someone "Good job!" just to be polite). Like I say, it's not a great movie. But Grant is entertaining. And so is Benjamin to a point. And if Karen Black's character was supposed to freak me out, she did a good job, too.... Thanks for reading.

      Delete
  3. I saw this is theaters many moons ago and, frankly, don't remember what I thought of it (aside from it being somewhat entertaining), which probably tells you something. However, I'm going to search it out as your post has ignited my curiosity. I do remember that the book was talked about a lot in its day and most people felt the movie version just jerked it off (ouch!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I only got to see it because they got it for the library. I doubt I would have sought it out. It's not horrible, but it's not my typical type of movie (no one gets blown up). Thanks for reading.

      Delete
  4. Thanks for joining with this review - I'm now keen to try it out after reading two half hearted reviews on this (with yours the more positive - for the excellent cast. Looking forward to seeing Lee Grant in this role, thanks for bringing it to our blogathon

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hope it works out for you. hanks for reading.

      Delete
  5. The film version of "Portnoy's Complaint" is such a curiosity. There's genuine talent involved both in front of and behind the camera, yet the results fall below what even those Grade-Z Drive in flicks beloved of the MSTSK set achieve with no visible talent involved. It's a comedy that's not very funny, and a Jewish culture satire that lacks insight.
    The cast makes whatever's onscreen compelling (enough) but even as much as I like the particulars (Karen Black, the '70s look of it), the entire project sure seems to have gotten away from Lehman somehow. I enjoyed reading your post very much, it was nice to read the observations of someone seeing the film for the first time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My experience with Jewish satire begins and ends with whatever appeared in a Mel Brooks movie. Or maybe the comedy of Henny Youngman...and boy does that date me. Thanks for reading.

      Delete

I'm pretty liberal about freedom of speech, but if you try to use this blog to sell something it will be deleted.