The Stunt Man

If God could do the tricks that we can do, he'd be a happy man...

THE STUNT MAN (15)

D: Richard Rush

20th Century Fox (Richard Rush)

US 1980

128 mins

Comedy/Drama

W: Lawrence B. Marcus & Richard Rush [based on the novel by Paul Brodeur]

DP: Mario Tosi

Ed: Caroline Biggerstaff & Jack Hofstra

Mus: Dominic Frontiere

Peter O'Toole (Eli Cross), Steve Railsback (Cameron), Barbara Hershey (Nina Franklin), Allen Goorwitz (Sam), Alex Rocco (Jake), Sharon Farrell (Denise)

The title alone may leave you expecting an action movie rather than a black comedy about filmmaking, and that's what this...

The story sees an unscrupulous director (played with relish by Peter O'Toole) who exploits a runaway fugitive by hiring him as a stuntman in his movie following the death of the original one during a tumultuous production.

The film, which is aimed at those who work or even have an interest in the biz, enigmatically treads a line between make-believe and reality without having too much story to drive it. A small cult following grew around the film and it was very well received by Oscar voters, who nominated it for Best Director, Screenplay and a well-deserved nod for Peter O'Toole.

7/10