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Straight Time

Straight Time

Crime · Drama · 1978

After being released on parole, a burglar attempts to go straight, get a regular job, and just go by the rules. He soon finds himself back in jail at the hands of a power-hungry parole officer.

Movie details

Straight Time

“"Please God, don't let him get caught."”

1978 Crime · Drama 1h 54m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.1 / 10

Community rating

After being released on parole, a burglar attempts to go straight, get a regular job, and just go by the rules. He soon finds himself back in jail at the hands of a power-hungry parole officer.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Straight Time?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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The Onion Field

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Sexy Beast

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Ex-safecracker Gal Dove has served his time behind bars and is blissfully retired to a Spanish villa paradise with a wife he adores. The idyll is shattered by the arrival of his nemesis Don Logan, intent on persuading Gal to return to London for one last big job.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Ulu Grosbard

Written by

Alvin Sargent · Edward Bunker · Jeffrey Boam

Dustin Hoffman

Dustin Hoffman

Max Dembo

Theresa Russell

Theresa Russell

Jenny Mercer

Gary Busey

Gary Busey

Willy Darin

Harry Dean Stanton

Harry Dean Stanton

Jerry Schue

M. Emmet Walsh

M. Emmet Walsh

Earl Frank

Rita Taggart

Rita Taggart

Carol Schue

Kathy Bates

Kathy Bates

Selma Darin

Court is in session

Put Straight Time on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Auteur Devotee

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.