(1971)
3.5
Fred Beldin
Although it occasionally has the feel of a feature-length advertisement for its star's latest LP, Cisco Pike has plenty to offer with its eccentric pacing, great cast, and period ambience. In his first leading role, Kris Kristofferson is comfortable and easy in front of the camera, though he rarely feels the need to amplify his emotions, even when being harassed by The Man or cradling his best friend's overdosed body in his arms. Without the beard that would soon become his trademark for the rest of the decade, he appears pasty and vulnerable, perfect for the part of a former pop star who secretly understands that the high times aren't coming back. As the titular protagonist, Kristofferson wanders the back streets of Los Angeles through a succession of scenes that serve to pair him up with one fine character actor after another. He goes one-on-one with Harry Dean Stanton, Antonio Fargas, Allan Arbus, and Severn Darden, among many others, holding up well with his own craggy, weatherbeaten persona. Gene Hackman's moustache alone strikes the perfect note of institutional menace, and his gradual unraveling as the desperate, crooked narc makes for a dangerous foe indeed. The flip side of Kristofferson's tribulations is embodied in a hilarious appearance by legendary Tex-Mex rocker Douglas Sahm, who captures the self-absorbed, hep-talkin' industry insider perfectly, cavalierly rejecting Cisco's demo reel and then asking to score weed. The soundtrack is filled with tunes from Kristofferson's then-recent The Silver Tongued Devil and I album; though possibly the best songs of his career, they don't always fit thematically with the onscreen action and are likely included only as a cross-promotional gambit. (At one point, the troubadour even calls a pregnant drug enthusiast a "silver tongued devil.") Director Bill L. Norton gives Cisco Pike an appropriately stoned vibe throughout, unfolding the action at the deliberate pace of a THC daydream and including some great footage of the Sunset Strip circa 1971. The conclusion is a bit abrupt and feels divorced from the rest of the film, but Kristofferson's expression of finality and resigned failure as he drives off into the sunset is perfect.
cast-crew for Cisco Pike on AllMovie
Cisco Pike (1971)
crew
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Bob Johnston
- Musical Direction/Supervision, Supervisor/Manager
