[attrition] Movie Review - Harold and Maude - 1971

[lyger]

Harold and Maude
1971
Lyger

As with most of my other reviews, I'll tell you what I think about a movie 
before I go into details about the film itself. Bottom line: 'Harold and 
Maude' is my favorite movie of all time. The first time I saw it (in my 
mid teens), I was absolutely floored. Generally catagorized as "dark 
humour", 'Harold and Maude' is a great mix of comedy, angst, tragedy, and 
hope. Most people I know either love it or hate it; at one point in my 
life, I actually recorded the audio track from VHS to cassette so I could 
listen to it during long drives (anything over 90 minutes). In short, I've 
probably watched this movie at least 150 times in its entirety. Yes, I'm 
weird that way.

Harold Chasen (Bud Cort) is a 19 or 20 year old "rich kid", perpetually 
bored and obsessed with death. Either for his mother's (Vivian Pickles) 
attention or his own amusement (or what seems to be both), Harold stages 
"suicides" in a variety of ways. In the movie's opening scene, Harold 
ceremoniously "hangs" himself in his own home. When his mother enters the 
scene, she examines the situation and tells him "dinner is at eight, 
Harold.. and do try to be a little more... vivacious."

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