Watching Bad Timing, the contraversial film from Nicholas Roeg, I began to consider the differences between the words "like" and "respect". If I like something, it gives me a certain level of pleasure. If I respect something, on an intellectual level I appreciate it to some degree, but it does not neccessary endear any positive reaction in me. I respected Bad Timing but did not like it.
What makes the movie unique is its structure, which will be considered brillant by some and a gimmick to others. It intercuts to main story lines involving the same characters, one in chronological order and the other in no real order at all. The story itself revolves around a relationship between Alex Lyndon (Art Garfunkel), a psychology professor, and Milena Flaherty (Theresa Russel). At the opening of the movie Milena is taken to the hospital after attempting suicide. A police inspector (Harvey Kitel) investigates the cause while her condition worsens. Intercut with this plotlines are scenes from the relationship at various time periods. At first, the audience has no idea who everyone is or what is going on, but as the film progress we see what the true nature of their complex relationship.
I did not enjoy this movie, but I found it vastly superior to Roeg's boring horror movie Don't Look Now. Although its a times frustrating, the structure (foreshadowing contemporary works like Memento) serves to keep thing interesting, at least for a while. The central problem that I had with the film is that the main story just isn't that intersting, no matter in what order you tell it. It is essentially a noir tale that by 1980 had been told several times, and the radical structure only helps a little in giving it some freshness. The movie's other major flaw is the lead performance from Art Garfunkel. I am a fan of Garfunkel's musical achievements with Paul Simon, but he is way out of his leauge here. His acting is often amatuerish and fake, far too often I found myself thinking about the actor than his character. The fact that Theresa Russell is excellent in her role just makes the problem worse.
I can certainly understand why this movie is popular- there is a certain kind of filmgoer who enjoys taking a really complex storyline apart to appreciate its nuences (as evidneced by the response to Memento and Tarintino's work). That's okay, but I want more than from a film than that. This movie had no characters I cared about (or at times even beleived) or ideas I found compelling. After an hour, I just wished Roeg would reveal was is going on and let the movie end. Fiftey minuets later, when he finally does, I wished he hadn't, because not knowing would have been more interesting than the banal plot twist he throws at us. I can' totally dislike the film because I admire its construction- writing and editing must have taken a master's attention and devotion. Unfortantley, that effort wasn't extended on anything else.
Bad Timing (1980)