The Panic in Needle Park
by Jerry Schatzberg
List Price:
Our Price: $13.49
You Save: $1.49 (10%)
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy Used: from $6.99 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD Cover Information
Actor: Al Pacino, Alan Vint, Kiel Martin, Kitty Winn, Richard BrightDirector: Jerry Schatzberg
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Dubbed), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; French (Dubbed), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Full Screen, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 109 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-06-19
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Movie Reviews of The Panic in Needle Park
Movie Review: Honesty rarely hurts this much...
Summary: 5 Stars
There are few films that are truly able to capture what it feels like to be addicted. Probably the film that comes the closest and is the most compelling (albeit most disturbing) is `Requiem for a Dream'; at least in my humble opinion. The little known gem that is `The Panic in Needle Park' comes very close though, for like `Requiem for a Dream', `The Panic in Needle Park' strips everything bare and delivers a very harsh reality to the viewer, exploring the depths that some will stoop to just to find their next fix.
`The Panic in Needle Park' tells the story of Bobby, a young heroine addict who falls in love with Helen, a sweet and innocent young girl who is taken up by Booby's apparent bad boy persona. He is new and interesting and unlike anyone she's ever really known before. Sure, she's been around drugs but she's never really been exposed at such an alarming rate until she met Bobby. Soon she becomes are addicted as he is, getting in and out of trouble with the cops as she peddles for Bobby, buys for Bobby and scores with Bobby. Bobby's brother Hank isn't much help, for while he isn't as addicted as Bobby, his criminal activities leave him just as bad an influence. As the film spirals towards its conclusion the lives of these two lovers become more and more disjointed and frantic and the panic sets in and the addiction takes over.
The film is grim (no where near as grim as `Requiem for a Dream' so don't worry too much) and it's gritty delivery makes each and every scene seem as if it is really taking place (the lack of any musical soundtrack helps add a layer of reality to the film). The performances really elevate the film as well, drawing the audience into the mental states of these star-crossed and ill-fated individuals. Kitty Winn is marvelous as Helen, a truly devastating depiction of lost dreams and manipulated trust. As she deteriorates due to Bobby's influence we watch her addictions take over her thinking and propel her in directions she never thought imaginable. When she talks to Bobby at the prison, her face contorting to that of pain and misery you can see every fiber in her slowly fraying at the edges. Al Pacino is also flawless as Bobby. This is the performance that got him the coveted role in `The Godfather' saga; Coppola falling in love with Pacino's acting ability here. He seeps effortlessly into the mind of an addict, conveying the hunger so readily and convincingly. He is outstandingly sympathetic at one extreme and then harrowingly vile on the other. He balances this very well in order to gain out acceptance and loyalty, much like Bobby gained that of Helen.
In the end I must say that I am in awe of this film. Like I mentioned, there are few films that can capture the heart of addiction with such fiery honesty, even though many films today try. `The Panic in Needle Park' has such a rare truthfulness in its story and it rings forth with such power that one cannot help but become absorbed in its tale. It is a hard film to watch because its misery is so real, but it is an important film to see for it sheds some light on the disease that takes so many victims today.
Summary of The Panic in Needle Park
Studio: Tcfhe Release Date: 06/19/2007Drama DVD Video
DVD Video
- Action & Adventure
- African American Cinema
- Animation
- Anime & Manga
- Art House & International
- Classics
- Comedy
- Cult Movies
- Documentary
- Drama
- Educational
- Fitness & Yoga
- Gay & Lesbian
- Horror
- Kids & Family
- Military & War
- Music Video & Concerts
- Musicals & Performing Arts
- Mystery & Suspense
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Special Interests
- Sports
- Television
- Westerns
Movies most talked about in Favorite Movies (that may or may not make me look intelligent)
Office Space - Special Edition with Flair (Widescreen Edition)LIVINGSTON,RON; Release date: 2005-11-01; DVD
Best price: $8.24
Price in other shops:
Revenge of the Pink PantherRelease date: 2009-01-27; DVD
Best price: $7.89
Price in other shops:
The Princess Diaries (Full Screen Edition)Princess; Release date: 2001-12-18; DVD
Best price: $8.31
Price in other shops:
Romeo & Juliet - The Music EditionTWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT; Release date: 2007-02-06; DVD
Best price: $5.99
Price in other shops:
Coming to America (Special Collector's Edition)PARAMOUNT PICTURES; Release date: 2007-06-05; DVD
Best price: $7.49
Price in other shops:
The Omen (Widescreen Edition)TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT; Release date: 2006-10-17; DVD
Best price: $1.90
Price in other shops:
Borat - Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (Widescreen Edition)TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT; Release date: 2007-03-06; DVD
Best price: $0.93
Price in other shops:
The Shining (Two-Disc Special Edition)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2007-10-23; DVD
Best price: $4.46
Price in other shops:
Atonement (Widescreen Edition)UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAIN.; Release date: 2008-03-18; DVD
Best price: $4.93
Price in other shops:
Ferris Bueller's Day Off Bueller...Bueller... Edition (Special Collector's Edition)BRODERICK,MATTHEW; Release date: 2006-01-10; DVD
Best price: $4.96
Price in other shops:
Similar DVD Movies
The Graduate (40th Anniversary Collector's Edition)TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT; Release date: 2007-09-11; DVD
Best price: $11.83
Price in other shops:
Angels in AmericaWarner Brothers; Release date: 2004-09-14; DVD
Best price: $4.48
Price in other shops:
Vicky Cristina BarcelonaGenius; Release date: 2009-01-27; DVD
Best price: $11.06
Price in other shops:
Ace in the Hole - Criterion CollectionImage Entertainment; Release date: 2007-07-17; DVD
Best price: $20.89
Price in other shops:
Al Pacinoby Lawrence Grobel
Simon Spotlight Entertainment; Published: 2008-04-22; Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.67
Price in other shops:
Caligula (The Unrated Edition)Image Entertainment; Release date: 2007-10-02; DVD
Best price: $12.11
Price in other shops:
The Hustler (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)NEWMAN,PAUL; Release date: 2007-06-12; DVD
Best price: $11.28
Price in other shops:
Two BitsPACINO,AL; Release date: 2002-10-08; DVD
Best price: $3.76
Price in other shops:
Bobby DeerfieldSony; Release date: 2008-03-11; DVD
Best price: $11.56
Price in other shops:
Author! Author!Release date: 2007-06-19; DVD
Best price: $5.63
Price in other shops: