The Sugarland Express1974

65/100 Steven Spielberg's second movie, and while not very good, it's still pretty alright in its own right. This is a movie with a premise I'd me more inclined to dislike if it wasn't based on a real event, with a good message as to people's reaction to an event and how public relations is placed above any actual solution. The movie is of course, helped by Spielberg's strong direction, but the actors here also do a good job on their own. Of course, the married pair's plan is hopeless, but you can see how the husband, played by William Atherton, is almost scared of his wife, played by Goldie Hawn, and wants to keep her quiet. Hawn herself perfectly plays the wife. While I'm not a fan of how vapidly she's portrayed, it's played so sincerely and over the course of the film you realize how unhinged she is. It's played very well, and developed over the course of the film. If I have one complaint, it's that the police are displayed to be very incompetent to almost comical levels. I get it was part of the point they were trying to make, but it's just stupid here. Overall, I much preferred Duel over this one, but Spielberg still manages to deliver a pretty alright product here with a good enough climax to mostly make up for any slow sections or any other complaints. Overall, pretty average and a good first theatrical release. Would recommend it.