The Frugal Theater: "Hardcore"

If you are looking at this post, based solely on the banner and post title, no worries. There's no judgment passed here at Cross the Streams. Actually, it may be the needed shock value, enticement, whatever, that makes you watch this awesome, practically unseen movie. But, it is underrated, and under-appreciated enough, that's it's now free on Crackle. Unedited. Uncouth. Unbelievably bad writing?

In 1979, Paul Schrader was riding the high hog. Gaining studio and street cred with his "Yakuza," "Blue Collar" and the super-seminal "Taxi Driver" (did you know that the script wasn't nominated for an Oscar? His work on "Raging Bull" and "Last Temptation" neither? Yeesh. He pissed off someone huh?), Schrader make his second directorial effort with "Hardcore." The always exemplary George C. Scott is Van Dorn, a dad looking for his daughter lost in California, likely in the porn underworld. Ooh. Sultry.

Showtime-y or even Lifetime-y as that may sound, this is "The Searchers" remade, rather spot on too. Schrader's always the best with subversive, religious, social, taboo subject matter, and "Hardcore" is as good as anything he's worked on. Just, it got forgotten.

So, do you yourself a favor, and watch this nerve-y studio film. Maybe alone. Maybe in the dark. Or maybe with a friend if you're uncomfortable watching it...

Here's the clickable link to the movie, for free, at Crackle: http://crackle.com/c/Hardcore