the film truly caught me off guard. i went in expecting one thing and walked out feeling slightly shaken. watching joe buck arrive in new york so sure of himself, only for the city to slowly strip away that confidence, was unsettling in the best way. the film quietly shows how fragile control really is, without ever spelling it out. by the end, it had me reflecting on my own life and wondering what i think i have figured out, and what reality might eventually challenge. haunting, uncomfortable, and strangely thought-provoking. definitely not an easy watch, but a memorable one.

finishing this made me wanna start over again immediately, but then I was scared, knowing how it ends. i dont even know what genre this would come under...buddy film? dramedy? unaddressed & repressed sexualities of people in the early 70's? whatever it may be, it was perfect. saving to cop the criterion collection :)