Movie Reviews by Edwin Jahiel

STRAIGHT TIME (1978)

Released from prison after several years, habitual criminal Dustin Hoffman has trouble with his sadistic, patronizing parole officer, and has also an irresistible attraction to get back to crime. Hoffman's is a powerful, realistic performance, as good as any before or since. The psychology of the criminal, well explored in the source book (Edward Bunker's "No Beat So Fierce,") is also convincingly shown in the film. The supporting performances are superior: M. Emmet Walsh as the parole officer, Harry Dean Stanton as Hoffman's old pal who has gone straight and is bored, Gary Busey as a junkie, Kathy Bates, and others. Theresa Russell, here in her second picture, attracted much attention even though her part does not fit in as logically as those of the others. Directed by former Dutchman Ulu Grosbard, whose latest is the fine "Georgia" (1995) starring Jennifer Jason Lee and Mare Cunningham.