The movie takes place in the 1950's in the small and dying town of Anarene, TX. Two best friends Sonny and Duane are the main characters who are just trying to keep themselves entertained in what is quickly becoming a ghost town. The movie basically follows Sonny and Duane through out the course of their senior year. Duane is dating Jacey, one of the few rich people in Anarene, who has a knack for causing trouble and being promiscuous. After breaking up with his girlfriend, Sonny becomes involved with his high school basketball coaches wife, and eventually Jacey when Duane and her break up. When a local man named Sam the Lion, who acts as a father figure to both Duane and Sonny, passes away suddenly, Sonny inherits the only movie theater in town. In the end, both men follow different paths in the end, Duane leaving to serve in the army, and Sonny staying in Anarene even after the movie theater is closed down.
This may be the worst description of a movie yet for me, but it is hard to describe. Mostly because the movie really has no major plot or climax, at least not to me. It really is just a coming of age tale about two young boys and their experiences growing up in this small town in the 50s. What I did like about the movie was that it portrayed the 1950's in a way people would not expect. When I think of the 1950s I think of post WWII Americana, with June in her pearls washing the dishes, kids in the yard playing with their dog, and the man of the house working at the office all day and coming home to a completely home-cooked meal. The Last Picture Show depicts a much different side of the 1950s, where kids rebelled (just like those of today) by acting promiscuous and defying their parents at every turn. For instance, Jacey engages in a group skinny dip, a relationship with her mother's lover, and elopes with her ex boyfriend. Sounds like something we see or hear about everyday! It was refreshing to see a different perspective on the 50s that made it relatable to today's youth. I guess the difference was that these topics were considered very taboo, and were not discussed let alone displayed for the entire world to see. With how connected the world is today, everything is brought out in the open. Affairs are even public knowledge. Has media and technology fueled us to become the open society that we are today? Interesting...
I would recommend seeing this movie because although this post may not sound convincing, I did actually enjoy watching it. Enjoy :o)