Watched Bottle Rocket last night and started watching King of Marvin Gardens. Then saw this post. Total coincidence!

I don't see the connection really.
Futureman and the banana suits could not exist in this world.
They both are European influenced American films though.
The girl waiting at the station made me think of Royal Tenenbaums though.
Maybe I didn't get the film, as I still don't really know what Dern was trying to do.
Dern reminded me a lot of Jason Lee in his first scene.
The director I wonder about watching this movie is Kubrick.
Jack+Scatman+Hotel = ?

Both are great films, though
The King of Marvin Gardens
creates more of an emotional wallop for me. This film is just flawless.

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I agree with lcrews completely and I urge you to take his advice.
Just popped into my mind that Rafelson originally wanted to cast Pacino in the role who I think could've been picture perfect (not that Nicholson isn't, but I doubt Al would've had to play it with the glasses on).

cjr3559, I think your complaint is a common one. Too many people want this to be Five Easy Pieces, or at least for Nicholson to play a character like Bobby Dupea. You've got to take Marvin Gardens for what it is, as hard as that may be. I think Nicholson's performance in it is amazing. Even though Five Easy Pieces is my all-time favorite film, I love what Nicholson, Dern, Burstyn and Rafelson did with Marvin Gardens.

Well, I watched this after liking "Bottle Rocket", and I'll have to say this was kind of dull. I thought Nicholson was mis-cast as the straight guy. Someone with that much talent shouldn't play anyone passive, especially when in contrast to a much higher energy character. He was great in the opening and closing monologues, but the entire time I watched everything else in between, I kept thinking he should have had Bruce Dern's part.
This film missed the mark for me in more ways than that, too. After seeing "Five Easy Pieces" (1970) and comparing what Rafelson and Nicholson did in that film, this was a disappointment. Too bad!

Interesting. So if I've already seen and enjoyed "Bottle Rocket", then I should love this?
Cool!
I already like Rafelson and Nicholson, so I bet I go mad for this. We'll see!

Well I'm a massive bottle rocket fan, and a massive Nicholson fan, but I haven't seen this film.
So, on your recommendation I'll try and check it out!

This is a brilliant observation.

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it's an interesting comparision.
i do see it.
one is definately on a lighter note, but the relationships i do see it there.

the one guy with all the ideas, everyone following along and believing even though he's kind of a BSer. The natural dialogue, the pacing, the one guy that was in a nutt house for depression. someone getting shot in the end, making all their plans fall apart.a lot ofthe off-beat quirky humor too they're similar in a lot of ways. i loved both films.
WWW.JORDANCROWDERFILMS.COM

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Well, it was better than
Bottle Rocket
, at least
When you've exhausted all options, even the impossible starts to look feasible

I hope I like this!
I guess we'll see tomorrow
When you've exhausted all options, even the impossible starts to look feasible