ranc1 — 5 months ago(October 17, 2025 01:37 PM)

I find this movie now, when I know so much more background - a very sad type of the movie if we can see multiple dimensions where to look.
Even though it is comedy, it is a bitter one, the older I get it makes me wanna cry when I watch it, for many reasons:
Starting with Richard Pryor who is struggling with this own sexual identity, trapped in the socially approved role for the public yet in his movies he is always showing * subtly hinting to the prying (no pun intended) public eye who he really is - in covert way. It is very sad.
He himself in personal life- he was a soul of 80s cinema yet plagued with addictions and tragedy and sadness, that is very sad to watch. He is a good guy, genuinely authentic guy that you can trust and he hurts so much, that is sad.
The theme, subject of the movie - is like analogy of life. We make money and then spend it like drunken millionaire without any rational or valid explanation why - only to end up alone at a sad departing party - that is sad too…
Then there is New York City - since 1970s it plunged into crime and chaos, and even though it is silly movie - it does address the corruption in big cities and how people do not have anyone to vote for - since the crime is organized between the tribes.
And the time capsule - the movie was filmed in the mid 1980s - the easier and less stressful times, it carries also the melancholy of past times.