Customer Reviews

John and Mary

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a brilliant example of what life was like in late 1960s New York. Coming right after their big hit films, Hoffman (MIDNIGHT COWBOY) and Farrow (ROSEMARY'S BABY) show a completely different, intimate side to their acting. While the film is somewhat fragmented, stick with it: you will find ultimate satisfaction in the story of two rather confused people trying to be as "urbanized" as their surroundings. One highlight is the "egg scene," in which the two engage in a discussion of organic foods. There are also many terrific appearances in character roles: Tyne Daly (CAGNEY AND LACEY) as one of Farrow's roommates and Marian Mercer (who had just won a Tony Award for PROMISES, PROMISES) as a self-absorbed fashion photographer stand out. All in all, a really gratifying cinematic experience.

John & Mary is typical of the era which is featured in this tale of two singles, beaten down by the dating game, who meet at a local club in Manhattan and spend a twenty-four hour period together.

Viewed from each character's eyes, we see the cynicism that cloaks their vulnerability, as each one looks at his/her life through flashbacks.

Mia Farrow and Dustin Hoffman portray the characters very well -- the four stars are due to the somewhat tired story of singles life in the sixties.

I watched this movie last spring and I thought it was okay. There are two things that really bother me about this movie: One, Mia Farrow spends almost the entire film wearing a dreaded baby doll dress (probably a more worse 60's fashion than the miniskirt) and then makes the cut more deeper by wearing heavy tights to match the color (it was brown). As that weren't enough Dustin Hoffman's character John discovers that Mary doesn't wear a bra; which means that she's a feminist. That raises the question: If Mary (Farrow) is a feminist then why is she wearing a baby doll ensemble?
The second thing that bothers me is the film's rating. As you know when "John and Mary" was released in the fall of 1969 it was rated R, then when it was released on video in the 80's the MPAA changed it down to PG. Guess what this movie is rated now it's available on DVD? R again! (the MPAA has done another flip-flop as what they did to "Targets" for example) And you know why: It's because of a very tame scene that occurs in the first ten minutes in which the camera catches Mia Farrow's butt and the rest of her naked body. That raises the burning question: What had changed? I must admit this rating system is a joke. So much that I wrote a letter to the company's president Dan Glickman telling him this is got to stop and that this is a classic example of why America will never escape the shadow of the 60's. Above all, it is average and my mother actually liked it. Oh, did I forget to mention that I almost got myself a hard-on from the last scene in this movie in which Hoffman and Farrow strip nude and get into bed?