Straight Time

Summary

“I’m limited in what they allow me to do.”

Recidivism. Why do people return to a life of crime? Straight Time is an excellent film from 1978 that goes a long way towards explaining why so many criminals return to a life of crime. Warner Archive has just released the oft-requested film on Blu-ray which stars Dustin Hoffman playing against type as a repeat offender that finds himself up against the odds when he is released by prison. The criminal justice system is fascinating to me, and Straight Time is atypical in how it approaches the issues of crime and incarceration. I watched the film the other night and was fairly blown away by it. 

As the film begins, Max Dembo (Dustin Hoffman) is let out of prison where he has spent the last six years. No one is there to greet him so he is given a bus ride into the city. Arriving in Los Angeles, Max attempts to live a normal life. He walks the city for the night taking in the city lights and trying to feel free. He reports to the department of corrections the next day which is within a shopping mall to meet with his parole officer, Earl Frank (M. Emmet Walsh.) Max has just served six years for a burglary with a weapon. The parole officer is upset that Max had spent the night before in a hotel instead of checking into the halfway house. Max learns quickly that his fate is in the hands of Earl and he better get along with him or he will be thrown back into prison. Earl agrees that if Max can find a place to live and steady work by the end of the week, he will not be forced to stay at the halfway house where he would face an early curfew and be under watch. Max finds a lodging at a terrible hotel for $18 a week. At the job placement testing center he meets Jenny Mercer (Theresa Russell.) He asks her out on a date after she helps to place him with a job at a canning factory. Max calls an old friend named Willy (Gary Busey) who got out of the pen and got a job. He started a family with Selma (Kathy Bates.) When Willy puts their child to bed, Selma explains to Max that she would rather not have Willy and him hang out. When Willy and Max hang out at Max’s apartment afterward, Willy pulls out his heroin he has been using and shoots up. Selma doesn’t know that Willy is using. Max let’s Willy know that even being around this activity, he is risking two to three years. Max goes to work at the canning factory the next day. When he gets back to his apartment, his parole officer is there. Earl finds the matchbook that was used to shoot up. He locks up Max while he is tested for drugs. Afterwards, he picks up Max to take him to the halfway house. Expecting Max to be thankful for not having him thrown back into prison for three years, he is surprised when Max jerks the wheel on the interstate, assaults him, and handcuffs him to a guardrail with his pants around his knees. Just like that, Max is back to a life of crime and on the run.

Straight Time is uniquely adept at interpreting the subject of imprisonment and recidivism in our country. The film was based on the novel No Beast So Fierce by convicted criminal Edward Bunker. Bunker was imprisoned three times for crimes ranging from grand theft auto to burglary from a young age, and wrote while behind bars as a form of escape. He was a gifted writer who knew very well exactly what the personalities involved in the criminal system were like – whether criminals or disciplinarians. His story is incredible because he overcame the large obstacles in his life and made something of himself against the odds. His novels were adapted for films three times, he was a successful screenwriter (Runaway Train,) and a small part actor (Reservoir Dogs, Heat.) The film explores how difficult it is to make it in life after a serious conviction – being a branded man basically. It’s a fantastic film and extremely realistic. The system wants to ensnare Max after he has been “reformed.” Sadly, the system has not changed much since this film or novel were released. America still has the highest incarceration rate in the world. It is still all too easy for people to find themselves trapped in the system.

The acting in the film is of very high quality. Dustin Hoffman would not have been my first choice to play Max Dembo given his diminutive size, but he does a great job in the role. While I might have cast somebody larger and tougher, Hoffman manages to sell the desperation of the situation and the anger behind the smile. Harry Dean Stanton is a joy to watch in the film as his partner in crime that was itching to get away from his civilized life. Gary Busey shines in his small but important role. Theresa Russell is also well cast as Jenny. One of the most memorable performances comes from character actor M. Emmet Walsh as the overbearing parole officer Earl. He is perfectly cast.

The direction by Ulu Grosbard is solid, drawing strong performances from the cast while keeping the pacing of the film streamlined. The script by Edward Bunker is great and was helped along by Alvin Sargent and Jeffrey Boam. Boam remains one of my favorite screenwriters and went one to write The Dead Zone, Innerspace, and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Apparently Michael Mann also had a hand in the screenplay although he was uncredited. The only aspect of the film that fails to convince is the romance between Max and Jenny. Probably for sake of time, the romance moves just a little too quickly to feel totally convincing. This is a minor quibble given the excellent nature of the rest of the film. Overall, Straight Time earns my highest recommendation.

Video

Warner Archive once again shows off their skill at preserving catalog titles. Straight Time has been restored beautifully. Warner has done a tremendous job on the transfer of the film using an MPEG-4 AVC codec in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The cinematography by Owen Roizman looks stunning on the Blu-ray format. The film captures Los Angeles in daytime and nighttime and the signs and locales come across really well. Warner’s recent restoration have shown exactly how great a catalog title can look on Blu-ray, and this is another great example. It is reference quality and the source is in great shape. Straight Time earns a perfect score visually, which is becoming a running theme from Warner Archive.

Audio

Similar to the video transfer, Warner has provided a great sounding DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track that capably replicates the original sound design of the film. This is largely a dialogue driven film but David Shire’s score helps things along occasionally. Clarity is excellent and I did not detect any issues.

Supplements:

Trailer

Overall Scores:

Video – 5/5

Audio – 4.5/5

Supplements – .5/5

Overall – 4.5/5

Straight Time is a wonderfully written film about recidivism and criminal life after prison. The film is realistic in displaying the struggles that convicts face upon their release into the world. Screenwriter and novelist Edward Bunker knew that world well because of his numerous criminal charges from a young age into his young adulthood. Dustin Hoffman delivers a great performance playing against type alongside character actors Harry Dean Stanton, M. Emmet Walsh, Gary Busey, and Theresa Russell. Fans of crime dramas will be hard pressed to find a grittier or better picture on the subject. Warner Archive’s new Blu-ray features an exceptional video transfer and solid audio. It only features a trailer as its sole supplement, but still earns a high recommendation for purchase based on the quality of the film itself. Straight Time is still just as relevant today as when it was released in 1978. Highly recommended!