Looking for some pulp fiction? No, not the Tarantino flick, I’m talking about its namesake; the gritty crime fiction of old. The likes of ‘Point Blank’ (1967).
Lee Marvin plays Walker, a tough-as-nails antihero done wrong by his dame and ex-business partner. Sound familiar? Probably. This concept has been told, retold and told again. No, seriously. This is only the first film adaptation of Richard Stark’s ‘The Hunter’. It was remade in 1992 as ‘Full Contact’ in China starring Chow-Yun-Fat and more recognizably here in the West in 1999 as ‘Payback’ with Mel Gibson.
This incarnation is Directed with genuine flair by John Boorman. Boorman would later gain real notoriety for his work behind the camera on ‘Deliverance’ (1972), but ‘Point Blank’ truly is a fantastic showcase for his skills. In it could be argued that it is in this department that ‘Point Blank’ exceeds other big screen attempts at bringing Stark’s vision to life.
That said, Boorman leaves the finale open for interpretation. I personally thought it was pretty straight forward, until I listened to the audio commentary. So, if you’re the type that really likes to dissect a movie after viewing it, ‘Point Blank’ could be more than good pulpy fun. If you prefer, it could be the source of discussion, dissection, or debate.
ANOTHER SUGGESTION: If you’re already a fan of Richard Stark’s work (or the author’s more recognizable name, Donald E. Westlake) and happen to be looking for a truly faithful adaptation of the source material, you might want to look into Darwyn Cooke’s graphic novel adaptation.
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