Return of the Secaucus 7

Return of the Secaucus 7 (1980) - Review
OK, so John Sayles wasn't always the god I've come to see him as. This was his very first film, so I don't feel so bad for being a bit underwhelmed. He made it with $40,000 and a group of friends (i.e. mostly non-actors). He also acts more here than in any of his other films I've seen.

The plot might be seen as the prototype for the hugely successful The Big Chill, only no movie stars, no groovy music, and much - how do you say - less expensive production values. Even so, we see glimpses of Sayles' unmatched ability to portray people being human beings.

There's a lengthy playground basketball scene where we see that Sayles and buddy David Strathairn got some game.

Sayles, it turns out, is responsible for launching the careers of two of my favorite "that guy" actors: Strathairn and Chris Cooper. Besides starring in other Sayles films like Limbo and Passion Fish, Strathairn shines in more mainstream efforts like L.A. Confidential and Lost in Yonkers. Cooper has killed in hits like American Beauty (Colonel Fitts... yeah!) and Adaptation, as well as Sayles films including Matewan (Cooper's first "real" film) and Lone Star. I love both these guys... thank you John Sayles.

The review linked to above happens to be the first in a list of mini-reviews of the complete John Sayles catalogue... all on one page! Yum. Check it out.

Update - OK, the list stops with the 2002 Sunshine State, so it's missing a couple of his latest films. But... you must read the review of Lone Star. He likes it as much as I do.

I love this film; it's one of my favourite works of literature, one of my favourite pieces of film, and a reminder of the almost limitless promise of the medium to entertain, educate, and shine a light on the state of our human state.

Ya, baby.

(out of 5)