The King of Marvin Gardens

"Bleak" might be the best word to describe this typically-low life early 1970s film. There were a number of these kind of grungy films made in that decade, and this is one another of them. It's also another example of a... Full review

As many others stated here, this a criminally overlooked artistic triumph that deserves a larger reputation. I want to make an observation that I think has passed by almost every reviewer and critic of this film: There is one moment, and... Full review

I read the reviews and comments that seem to indicate a deep and insightful movie. I guess I am just a simpleton, but I simply don't get it. It seems a quiet character study type of film. It contrasts the two... Full review

I thought this superior to CARNAL KNOWLEDGE and am a bit surprised by the reaction to it at time of release. After FIVE EASY PIECES and before STAY HUNGRY this '72 film was thrown aside and dismissed. I guess Nicholson wasn't... Full review

A truly great film and sadly overlooked and under rated, following up Five Easy Pieces and showing Nicholson at his most awesome. A far better take on Atlantic City than the Louis Malle's film of that name. Incredible acting from Nicholson,... Full review

I'm surprised some reviewers did not like this absolute masterpiece. I think it is their right, but I would suggest that they had another careful look at it. How can you not admire ALL the players, especially Burstyn? How can one... Full review

I can see how many might look at this film in the light of "Five Easy Pieces", considering the prior collaboration. But taken on its own merits, this piece is driven by the interesting, passionate, and sometimes manic performances by Nicholson,... Full review

This movie is only well known among us film nuts who deliberately search out the difficult....because it doesn't involve car chases or stunts or ridiculous plots they typically miss it.....Even in those cases, of course, he is still more interesting than most actors around.....Any consideration of the greatest living actor has to include Jack Nicholson....perhaps that is the reason most people aren't aware of it as Nicholson usually excels at louder parts..... ... Full Review

I didn't dislike The King Of Marvin Gardens Dern co-stars as Nicholson's older brother, a scam artist who's all style and no substance, and Burstyn excels as an aging beauty who has prostituted herself for an elusive shot at happiness. ... Full Review

But the role-reversal casting (Nicholson introverted; Dern flamboyant) pays off, giving vibe to a movie that reveals itself through silences and chatter before the climax slams everything together. As they traipse around Atlantic City the two men stumble after their dreams, with Nicholson lost in his memories and Dern scamming to win a ticket to his paradise island. ... Full Review

Bob Rafelson 's THE KING OF MARVIN GARDENS is a perversely satisfying movieit works after going out of its way not toand a very eccentric one. Ellen Burstyn succeeds in a difficult task; she has to make her performance striking enough to justify the movie's ending, but she can't push too far or we'll know too much, too soon. ... Full Review

Alternately dreary and fascinating, THE KING OF MARVIN GARDENS is half of a terrific film....The film is a fairly daring if rather pretentious attempt at originality....For all its faults, THE KING OF MARVIN GARDENS has some merit and many of the individual scenes linger in the memory.....The weakest part of the film was the repetitious, indulgent dialogue credited to Brackman....this type of intimate narrative generally requires.... ... Full Review

TEN-BEST lists are for appointed film critics. The rest of us do what we can to like as many films as possible, and I find I can muster nine for 2001, without too much cheating. In no particular order, it ... Full Article

After the demise of their TV show, the Monkees brought their particular brand of musical madness to the screen under the direction of Bob Rafelson (FIVE EASY PIECES; THE KING OF MARVIN GARDENS; BLACK WIDOW), who also played a key... ... Full Article