Last Picture Show

i had resisted watching this for a long time because i had the impression it was a mundane Americana coming of age snowglobe, and it is, but turned out dark and gritty, with a sort of DOG toy universe aesthetic. Spooky. A little confusing and perhaps misogynistic or teen misogynistic as the mother and cloris leachman's characters were pretty great. The first scene with the mother is unsympathetic, which provides great contrast to her love and support of her daughter later, and her confiding in Sonny at the end.

The big breakthrough is the director's commentary which started playing at the end. What a resource on Criterion! That's why I subscribe, turns out. Tidbits to be sure, but the language of film installed again!