Atlantic City (1980)

Star Rating- 2
Length of Film- 104 minutes
Director-Louis Malle
Cast- Burt Lancaster, Susan Surandon, Kate Reid, Michel Piccopi, Hollis McLaren, Robert Joy, Al Waxman, Robert Goulet, Moses Znaimer, Angus Macinnes, Sean Sullivan, Wallace Shawn, Harvey Atkins, Norma Deil' Agnese, & Louis Del Grande
Oscar Nominations- Denis Heroux (best picture), Louis Malle (director), John Guarenas (screenplay), Burt Lancaster (actor), & Susan Surandon





If you want to see Susan Surandon rub lemon juice on her chest, shoulders, and breast...then watch this movie.

If you want to watch Susan Surandon make out with an older man...then watch this movie.

If you want to see a husband leave his wife for her sister, because they got pregnant...then watch this movie. 

If you want to see how they bought and sold cocaine...watch this movie.

Everyone rants and raves about how this movie portrays the crumbling Atlantic City with all the renovations and the mix of old and new AC trying to mesh as one. Burt Lancaster playing the old AC mobster who cannot let go of the past, and Susan Surandon, the present who is trying to get out of the food industry to the card tables to better her life.


I just didn't like it... I didn't like the romance the writers wrote having Surandon and Lamcaster be lovers. I can't believe a woman would go for a man 40+ years older. 

The book, "1,001 Movies You Must See Before You Die" raved about this film stating..." A wonderfully hard-to-categorize combination of crime thriller, love story, Beauty and the Beast-style fairy tale, and meditation on the changes affecting an American resort over half a century. " 

Yes, you write a compelling review interesting me in the film, but it sucked!!! Why would you want to watch a movie about a town that's falling a part, showing that crime and drugs were a crucial part of the city? Not me... 

Susa Surandon's accent was god awful, and made me second guess why she was even nominated for an Oscar. Why? Because she was topless and had to make out with Burt Lancaster? I don't think so... 

The ONLY part I liked was when the mixed the coca in with baby talc powder, or something along those sorts to trick the sellers and make more $. Thought that was pretty clever. 

Again, make your own mind. I disagreed with the reviewer of the book, but it doesn't mean that you won't. 

Happy watching!