Al Pacino goes cruising for a killer in William Friedkin’s controversial 1980 drama
CRUISING (William Friedkin, 1980)
Landmark Sunshine Cinema
143 East Houston St. between First & Second Aves.
Friday, February 24, and Saturday, February 25, 12 midnight
212-330-8182
www.landmarktheatres.com
We have a frightening confession to make: We first saw Cruising with our mother. Back in 1980, we would immediately see anything with Al Pacino in it; he had been the king of the ’70s, making such memorable films as The Panic in Needle Park, The Godfather, Scarecrow, Serpico, The Godfather Part II, Dog Day Afternoon, and . . . And Justice for All. We even forgave him his one misstep, Bobby Deerfield. But as it turned out, the ’80s were not so kind to ol’ Al, save for Scarface. When we heard that Cruising was opening at a local theater, we didn’t care what it was about; it was rated R (after fighting off an X), so we couldn’t go without an adult, and our mother was more than game to see the latest Pacino flick, directed by William Friedkin, the mastermind behind The French Connection and The Exorcist. The controversial movie follows an ambitious cop (Pacino) as he goes deep — and we do mean deep — undercover into New York City’s homosexual S&M culture in the West Village in order to catch a serial killer. Cruising features cool and unusual city locations, and it also stars Paul Sorvino, Karen Allen, Don Scardino, and Joe “Maniac” Spinell. (And be on the lookout for such other familiar faces as James Remar, Sonny Grosso, Ed O’Neill, and Powers Boothe.) We actually can’t remember what we thought of the movie back then, and we haven’t dared go near it ever since. Perhaps it’s finally time. It will be playing at the Landmark Sunshine on Friday and Saturday at midnight. We strongly advise against going with your mother.