Separate Ways (1981)

Overrated and overhyped

Beautiful, moving film.

Am i the only one who thinks........Average?

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

The only reason why I bother, is because this one was included with the answer to my quest to find NIGHT CLUB, the Crown International rip-off (er, strike that, I have found some interesting performances) known as "Dangerous Babes" that notorious 3 disk set with 12 movies by the kings of loser fare.You could say that it is my misfortune to have seen NIGHT CLUB decades ago, barely remembering it, wanting to see what my fuss was about, but being unable to find it in singular form. I wasn't keen on the purchase.Scouting those included titles, I spotted some dodos, not that I knew any of them, but this one, SEPARATE WAYS, featuring Karen Black, I just new this to be a no-hoper. The name Karen Black doesn't exactly give me a buzz. I always thought she was the wrong choice for CAPRICORN ONE. She's best remembered as the horror face in BURNT OFFERINGS. Not exactly romantic movie material.This afternoon though, I do believe, I have now seen everything, believe me, I have. Karen Black as a Foxy Lady. Actually, she was kind of cute, with the big red tail and pointy ears, cute in a Karen Black way.A couple days ago I learned that she died a few years ago. So, with that damper on things, not gonna say much more.A reviewer here mentioned that Karen is a better actress than the average Crown International fare. Could be. Fails to make one damn difference to the viewing experience. For it's a hell of a boring relationship drama movie with unappealing main protagonists.And hardly a good print. Looks like it went a couple rounds through some hicksville drive-in theaters.Avoid. Avoid it if you can. I've now seen five of the twelve, busy with a sixth, and the consensus is: AWFUL movies, here and there saved by pretty girls making noteworthy appearances. But the movies are AWFUL as in BAD as in YUCK.Crown International Pictures, not a symbol of quality. Understatement.

The Plot. A wife unhappy in her marriage begins an affair with an art student, unaware that her husband, a race driver, is also having an affair.Yikes. Crazy Karen Black stars in what appears to be a TV movie but it's not. It's just directed that way. Cheaply.Black still had a good body when this was made. She must have been a firecracker in bed during her prime.Alas, Black's enormous jugs do not a movie make and soon you will be bored out of your mind. This happens about 19 minutes in.

One of the strangest chapters in the history of Crown International Pictures was when they picked up the independently produced SEPARATE WAYS, a movie that had actually been completed in 1979 and sat in limbo for a while as the producers looked for a distributor. It was a strange choice for C.I.P. because while the movie is rated "R" and involves infidelity, it's not a sleazefest. It is actually a sober look at both partners in a troubled marriage. The movie is well acted by Karen Black and Tony Lo Bianco, and you can sense the filmmakers were really trying to make a compelling drama, but it doesn't quite work. It feels kind of dry, kind of like what a made-for-TV movie of the era would play out if it had "R" rated elements. It's not a terrible movie, just kind of flat. A word of warning if you plan to rent or buy the movie - while the movie has been given an official DVD release, the DVD company just copied an ex-rental video cassette instead of finding the movie's negative and making a copy directly from it.

Vain, neglectful former race car driver turned automobile dealership owner Ken Colby (a fine portrayal by Tony Lo Bianco) and his sweet, but fed-up wife Valentine (a marvelously warm and appealing performance by Karen Black) are having marital problems. Not only does Ken have his hands full with his faltering business, but he's also having an affair with fetching co-worker Sheila (lovely Katherine Justice). When Valentine discovers Ken's infidelity, she has a fling of her own with nice, decent college student Jerry Lansing (the always affable David Naughton). This tasteful and thoughtful feature represents a radical departure for director Howard Avedis, who usually made such enjoyably trashy exploitation fare as "The Teacher," "Texas Detour," and "They're Playing With Fire." Avedis eschews his standard gleeful wallowing in the sleaze to offer instead an observant and compelling portrait of the difficulty found in sustaining a romantic relationship throughout the years and the severe toll a lack of open communication can have on said relationship. The uniformly excellent cast play their well-drawn and engaging true-to-life characters with commendable conviction: Lo Bianco and Black do stellar work in the lead roles (Black in particular is a total delight and looks absolutely gorgeous), with sturdy support from Arlene Golonka as Valentine's loyal, supportive best gal pal Annie Donahue, Sharon Farrell as Valentine's perky friend Karen Haskell, William Windom as Ken's excitable business partner Huey Block, Noah Hathaway as the Colby's darling son Jason, and Jack Carter as jolly bar owner Barney Brodsky. Both Dean Cundey's slick cinematography and the jazzy, tuneful score by John Cacavas and Bonnie Becker are up to speed. A poignant little dramatic sleeper.