When the daughter of devoutly religious midwestern businessman Jake Van Dorn (George C. Scott) disappears on a trip to Los Angeles sponsored by the family's Calvinist church, Jake's search for his daughter, Niki (Season Hubley), leads him into a shocking world of pornography. HARDCORE, an early venture from writer-director Paul Schrader, features what may be Scott's best performance (this side of PATTON) as a man shattered by his daughter's descent into the world of porn. In California, Jake hires Andy Mast (Peter Boyle), a sleazy Hollywood private detective, to help him find Niki; the two descend into the sordid realm of the hardcore sex industry, determined to retrieve her. An intentionally jarring shift of tones via editing techniques, the inherent strong material of the story, and interesting comparisons between conservative religious fanaticism and the porn industry give HARDCORE a unique depth in its portrayal of a man whose moral compass is suddenly put into question.
Director Paul Schrader was raised a Calvinist; his strict upbringing is widely thought to have influenced this film.
DVD Features:
Region (unknown)
Keep Case
High Definition Widescreen
Audio:
Subtitles - English, Japanese, Spanish - Optional
Cinematographer
Michael Chapman: American Director Of Photography/Director
Production Designer
Paul Sylbert: Art Director/Screenwriter
Art Director
Edwin O'Donovan:
Review 1:
"...A very good film....[Scott delivers] as fine a performance as he's ever done..."
Source: Variety
02/14/1979
Review 2:
"...Brave and chilling....As funny as it is quick and frightening."
Source: New York Times
p.75 02/09/1979
Review 3:
"In part a fascinating tour through the seediest, saddest sections of the US netherworld..."
Source: Uncut
p.136 03/01/2005
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