Let It Ride
My mother loves Richard Dreyfuss. I’m always like, “Ugh! That guy! I can’t stand that guy.” Then we watch one of his movies and I love it, and I love him in it. I’ve finally managed to form the habit of reminding myself that, no, I do not dislike Richard Dreyfuss, I love Richard Dreyfuss. Why I have this visceral reaction against him, I do not know, since I love everything I’ve ever seen him in.
Let It Ride is totally one of my favorite movies. It’s one of those “sad sack” movies, where a little nothing of a guy, kind of a screw-up, is the lead character. You identify with him because he’s just a guy. You know he’s riding for a fall, because that’s what happens to guys like him. But there’ll be kind of a bittersweet thing, you expect, that’ll help him deal with the fact that Fate kicked him in the can again, just like it always does.
Lemme tell you sumpin: Watch this movie.
You’re welcome.
A WRITING PROMPT FOR YOU: A character grudgingly changes his or her opinion about something or someone.
MA
Perry Block (
October 12, 2013 at 3:25amCoincidentally Richard Dreyfuss is one of the subjects of my most recent blog post, but not this Richard Dreyfuss. The old Richard Dreyfuss. And the young Richard Dreyfuss. But not this Richard Dreyfuss.
Marian Allen
October 12, 2013 at 10:36amHmmm. Yes. The one who had the affair, you mean?
Jane
October 12, 2013 at 9:22amI’ve never seen your cited movie, nor even -ahem- ever heard of it. I find R.D. to be among the last actors I would go see a movie for. But I know what you mean. He’s brilliant!
I loved the ransom of Red Chief type movie he did with Bette Midler. Gosh, how swell was that? But I especially love, I think it was Tootsie?, where he was a struggling actor given the task of playing Richard III as a super-gay, hugely hump-backed, something else here, twit in an off-off-Broadway production. I didn’t even wonder how one would play that. I thought the orders from the director were the joke. But then, they actually showed Dreyfus’ performance on stage giving a soliloquy as the main characters attended. It was just one speech, but I am here to tell you, it was BRILLIANT! He took that ridiculous description and gave a swishing, heartfelt speech. Astounding!
Marian Allen
October 12, 2013 at 10:39amAbsolutely! I don’t know why I’m so resistant to him. I STILL AM, even though I know I love his work. I just have to let my head rule my heart. I find that letting my head rule my heart is, despite what they tell you on television, usually a pretty good idea. Because why? Because my heart doesn’t have any BRAINS is why.
James Ladis
October 22, 2013 at 2:53pmLet It Ride is one of those underrated movies that people didn’t see because it didn’t do well at the box office. Richard Dreyfuss is a great actor but I think his voice turns people off.
Marian Allen
October 22, 2013 at 3:36pmIs that what it is about him? Because you’re right: He’s a great actor!
Ismail N
October 28, 2013 at 9:40pmGosh, I can’t remember the last time I watched him in a movie – Red, perhaps? He’s not my favourite. But maybe, I’ll give ‘Let It Ride’ a try, if it has a happy ending. 😀
Marian Allen
October 29, 2013 at 6:59amIt DOES have a happy ending! It makes me happy, just thinking about it. 🙂