Continental Divide
Continental Divide (1981)
This is a variation on theme of the fish out of water story. This time it's the big city reporter way out of his element in the great outdoors
Director: Michael Apted
Cast: John Belushi, Blair Brown, Allen Garfield, Val Avery
Memorable Line: "I want to stay here only marginally more than I want to die trying to escape."
Cast: John Belushi, Blair Brown, Allen Garfield, Val Avery
Memorable Line: "I want to stay here only marginally more than I want to die trying to escape."
This is a variation on theme of the fish out of water story. This time it's the big city reporter way out of his element in the great outdoors
The Plot of Continental Divide
Ernie Souchak (Belushi) is the typical hard-nosed big city reporter who specializes in getting all the dirt on corrupt city fathers. When he steps on the wrong toes, he finds his life in danger and, at the urging of his boss, he takes a sabbatical trip into the Rockies to interview a reclusive researcher (Brown) who specializes in eagle research.
They are obviously badly mis-matched and initially don't get along at all as she wants nothing to do with him and he wants nothing to do with the nature scene. The sparks fly as their philosophies and styles clash, but Souchak starts finding this independent and attractive woman of nature quite alluring. She, of course, rebukes him -- initially, but something about him starts to win her over.
Souchak, being the hopeless news hound that he is, has to find a story and does he decides to write about the researcher and her work with the endanger eagles. After two bad bouts with nature, Souchak ends up staying past his planned departure date, but it's not nature that fells the mighty Souchak, but love.
Upon his return to the city, he sleep walks through his job, but when something happens to one of his source, he's back on the trail of corruption and distances himself from his lady love. That is, until she turns up on his turf and then their world collide all over again, leaving the two in limbo, caught in two different worlds.
The Performances, Writing, and Direction of Continental Divide
This movie has a throw-back quality to it and you have to buy into the fact that this is pure Hollywood. Penned by Lawrence Kasden, the script has its cliches, but it stays consist to it's nature and finds a core that audiences can accept if they don't want reality. They keep most of the schmaltz to a minimum.
Belushi is a bit stiff at times as the leading man, but he has an endearing style that wins you over. I'm a sucker Blair Brown at this stage in her career, but besides that obvious bias, she is convincing in her role.
The music score is over the top at times and doesn't help keep the movie grounded. Some of the moments reek of sentimentality and the balance is tenuous, but there's an irresistible appeal to the movie that engages the viewer.
Summary Judgment on Continental Divide
Not too subtle, the movie has an overall appeal that masks the thin story and schmaltzy scenes, but the ending pushes the limits somewhat. It's shame that Belushi did allow himself to live long enough to cultivate this leading man gig he really only got to audition for in this film.
posted by Random at
12:01 PM
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