Klute (1971) (+)

Believe it or not, big, huge Hollywood blockbuster are not really my thing. So Star Wars' posts are not going to be the "thing", as I resurrect this blog.  And just so you, dear reader, do not make false assumptions.  Movies are not going to be the "thing" either.  They will be one of the "things".  Records and books, too.  Books, always.  In fact, I received eight books for Christmas.

But for this post, we have Klute, a crime thriller from the year of my birth.  That I was not even aware of until I went searching for some interesting film noirs that I had not yet seen.  Klute resided on one of those lists.  I wouldn't exactly call it a noir, but it definitely shows its influences.  Noir or not, who really gives a shit.  Is it any good? Am I right?

And yes it is.  In fact, or at least in my opinion (for the purposes of this blog = fact), it is very good.  Klute stars Jane Fonda, in an Oscar-winning turn, as call girl, Bree Daniels, and Donald Sutherland as the titular character John Klute.  I have no idea, who the nominees were in 1971, but let's just get this out of the way -  Fonda's portrayal of a conflicted NY call girl trying to get out of the life is very Oscar worthy.

The plot is simple enough,  PI Klute is hired to find his best friend, who has gone missing, by his friend's wife and employer.  Some obscene letters written to Bree by the friend...lead Klute to her.  And with that, we are pulled into a psychological thriller in the truest sense of the title.  Not only are we drawn in by the voyeuristic creepiness of a killer stalking Bree, but there's also Bree's shrink trips where she tries to work out her reasons for remaining in the trade despite not really needing it,  and also a developing sexual tension between Bree and Klute.  It all works, though I admit to not being pulled into the shrink stuff until Bree turns her attention to her feelings for Klute.

Klute works as a great piece of cinema, despite no real gun play, no car chases, no explosions...in fact, very little "action".  It's a shame crime films like this are seldom made anymore.