Although Jack Lemmon had played "serious" roles before (such as his turn in Days of Wine and Roses), in 1973 he was still primarily considered a comic actor, albeit one of tremendous range. After Save the Tiger, Lemmon's gifts as a serious actor were confirmed beyond any doubt. His unflinching, Oscar-winning portrayal is the centerpiece of this disquieting movie. A character study of a man who is dissatisfied with his life but too moored in the superficial trappings of it to move beyond, the movie is essentially a prolonged character study, and it succeeds because Lemmon, under John G. Avildsen's assured direction, fills every moment. Avildsen trains the camera on Lemmon throughout, capturing telling nuances even in such mundane moments as Lemmon's wait for an elevator to arrive. Lemmon's initial encounter with free spirit Laurie Heineman is a small treasure; the pleasure underneath his dialogue -- inspired both by his attraction to the girl and his secret pride at being propositioned by her -- is a delight. And he holds nothing back during the "big" scenes, either. He is ably supported by Jack Gilford, whose performance perfectly compliments Lemmon's. The script is intelligent and perceptive, and Avildsen's direction is understated and assured. Avildsen would mark time with his next two films before hitting a career high with Rocky in 1976.