Stay HungryRating:
Release Date: 18 May, 2004 Retail Price: $9.98 OUR Price: $9.98 You SAVE: $0.00! Cast: Complete Cast (14 total) |
Stay Hungry Reviews
Stay Hungry
I've been a fan of Arnold's for a long long time and enjoyed following his career as a bodybuilder and actor.
I recently re-read his autobiography "Education Of A Bodybuilder" which is a great look into the life of this interesting and dedicated individual. The movie "Stay Hungry" was mentioned so I figured I'd try to see if I could check it out. Fortunately my library had a copy so I gave it a shot.
My wife and I just finished watching it and all I could say was "That's an hour and forty minutes of my life I'll never get back".
It had a great cast and the basic idea of the story wasn't bad. It's about a rich heir from an old southern family who is involved with a bunch of seedy businessman who are trying to buy out some land to build a high rise. The last place that needs to be bought is a building w/ a "fitness spa" in it. The fellow (Jeff Bridges) who is trying to get the building ends up getting friendly with a bunch of the folks there, including falling in love w/ a quirky woman (Sally Field) and so he decides not to pursue the business deal much to the consternation (to put it nicely) of his business associates. Not a bad storyline but it really is done in a way that I found disjointed and silly to the point of almost insulting (I was insulted by the fact that I wasted my time). Perhaps it was a relevant approach during the era it was filmed (for example the old Peter Seller's Pink Panther movies don't stand up for me though were funny back when they were made, though other movies, such as Monty Python's "Holy Grail" is still as good today as it was back then, perhaps even better!).
I guess for fans of Arnolds (and Sally Field and Jeff Bridges) there is a nostalgic element that they might find attractive (which is why I gave it two rather than one star) but for me it was really not worth the time.
Obviously I'm one of a few people reviewing this who didn't like it so perhaps you should check it out and judge for yourself, I just wanted to share my impressions.
I've written many reviews here and this is only one of a small handful of negative reviews I've given but I felt compelled to share my thoughts on it.
On the flip side, if you are interested in early Arnold, check out "Pumping Iron" the 25 anniversary DVD, it's totally amazing and includes a 45 or so minute documentary on the making of "Pumping Iron" w/ lots of previously unreleased footage. Now THAT was a joy to watch and I'm surely watch that many many more times for years to come!
Before They Were Stars (or Govenor)
Stay Hungry is a film about the new south trying to preserve the old south. This was the turning point for all of the stars.
The film takes place in Birmingham, Alabama. The Blake's have been part of Birmingham society forever. Craig (Jeff Bridges) recently lost his parents and are at odds with himself. He has fallen in with some shady real estate developers. Craig has been given the assignment to buy the last piece of property for a development. This building is a gym.
The gym contains an assortment of characters. The receptionist is Mary Kate Farnsworth (Sally Field), Joe Santo (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is a former Mr. Austria training for the Mr. Universe Competition,
Joe and Mary Kate take his Craig and his friend society Dorothy to the lake. The lake is where Joe and Mary Kate go to relax. This is the beginning of the relationship between Craig and Mary Kate.
Craig gets further drawn into their culture when Joe takes him to meet some of his fiddling friends. This is a great scene with people who play music just for enjoyment.
Things start to go wrong for Craig when Craig's business partners trash the gym. Then Joe brings Mary Kate and Joe to a country club event. When Joe took Craig to his friends, the accept him for who he is but the country club set want Joe and Mary Kate to know they just guests.
The day of the Mr. Universe contest arrives. Troy and Vernon have been set up with hookers and Vernon and the hookers steal the prize money. When the contestants suspect something is wrong, a crazy chase through the streets happen. A lot of this is impromptu with the citizens of the city as observers.
In the end, Craig and Mary Tate find each other.
At the time of this film Sally Field was still in transition. Norma Rae was still three years away and Sybil had not aired yet. This was an early chance to see her potential. She shines as the little hill girl who escaped to the big city.
Jeff Bridges had some early success with films like The Last Picture Show. But he never became a star in his own right. Stay Hungry would be one of many great performances that he did not capitalize on.
Arnold Schwarzenegger was the world's most renowned body builder but his first two films were disastrous quickies designed to capitalize on his name. This was his first quality film. Arnold knew that he over his head with this part, so he played it as close to himself as possible. And that paid off for Arnold winning the Golden Globe and critics awards.
The cast featured numerous actors that made their name in the 80's and 90's, mostly on television. Robert Gilliland (Designing Women) played Craig's business partner. Ed Begley, jr. (St. Elsewhere / Arrested Development) played a country club friend. Fannie Flagg (The New Dick Van Dyke Show / Match Game) as a country club matron. Joanna Cassidy (Who Framed Roger Rabbit / Six Feet Under) is a society dilettante. Roger Mosley (Magnum PI) and Robert Englund (Nightmare on Elm Street) are two guys who work at the gym. Scatman Crothers as Craig's houseman.
DVD EXTRAS :
Commentary by Bob Rafelson, Jeff Bridges and Sally Field
Video Introduction by Rafelson - 5 minute introduction where director Rafelson explains the origins of the film.
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