The Panic In Needle Park

The Panic in Needle Park (1971)

Runtime: 110 minutes

Directed by: Jerry Schatzberg

Starring: Al Pacino, Kitty Winn, Alan Vint, Richard Bright, Kiel Martin


From: 20th Century Fox

This movie played (Thursday) evening on Turner Classic Movies and as I heard good things, it seemed like a good idea to see early Al Pacino; he was not the only highlight. Thank heavens I viewed TV instead of streaming something online, as my Internet was out for a few hours, which was not what I needed during these times.

Anyway, Needle Park refers to an area in New York City which was known for having many heroin users around. Bobby (Pacino) uses the white horse; he claims he is not addicted but as typical, he is deluding himself. Helen (Kitty Winn) is an artist who meets up and eventually forms a relationship with Bobby, despite finding out early on that he is a user who steals items and sells them for drug money. Although, he is charismatic so there is a reason why she-not a user-would hook up with him. Would it be a spoiler to say that her hanging out with him and his druggie buddies would have a negative impact on her life?

Drug movies like these are never an easy watch. Thankfully it isn't so incredibly bleak that it is a brutal watch, a struggle to get through because the content is so depressing and sad. That is not to imply this shies away from the effects of drugs and how it ruins a person's life... not to mention their looks; oh no, that is portrayed here. The fact that there is an up and down relationship involving a couple helps humanize this movie and you do feel bad for them as their lives spiral out of control. As others have noted, this is easier to digest than something like Requiem for a Dream.

It was filmed in the crappy New York City of old in a cinema veritae style and that was quite effective. Pacino was great as Bobby but so was Winn as Helen; they were quite the duo and both went through a wide range of emotions throughout; yes, this includes Pacino getting angry and yelling in several scenes. Thankfully he wasn't at 100 the entire time and he had his share of quiet, tender scenes also. If you enjoy 70's gritty cinema, this is one of many applicable examples.