Little Murders

Little Murders is an eccentric, offbeat black comedy which was released in 1971. Based on a play by Jules Feiffer, who also wrote the screenplay, the movie was directed by Alan Arkin in his directorial debut. With Elliot Gould, Marcia Rodd and Vincent Gardenia among others in its main cast, Little Murders is known for its dark, comedic perspective on the absurdity and violence of life in urban America in the '70s.

The narrative follows Alfred Chamberlain, a fascinating character played by Elliott Gould. Albert is a disengaged and apathetic photographer who captures images of feces, an unusual choice that fittingly encapsulates his disillusioned outlook on life. Despite being engaged in an unconventional career, his mundane life takes an intriguing turn when he encounters the lively and vibrant, Patsy Newquist.

Marcia Rodd plays Patsy, a high-spirited and seemingly cheery character who finds something inexplicably fascinating in Alfred’s impassive persona. Patsy is an anomaly - an optimistic soul trying to make sense of her dreary surroundings through her unfathomable interest in the most unlikely of men. Her relentless optimism and efforts to get Alfred to engage more with the world around him offer much of the movie’s humor.

Patsy's parents, Carol (Elizabeth Wilson) and Mr. Newquist (Vincent Gardenia) are also central characters to the narrative, with their contrasting ideologies creating a unique dynamic. Carol, the mother who is seemingly out of touch with reality, and Mr. Newquist, the father who obsesses over their home's security to defy the city's rising violence, make for strong secondary characters.

The film sharply contrasts its comedic undertones with a darker theme highlighting violence, a looming omnipresence throughout the film. The depiction of senseless violence and individuals’ responses to it provides a critical social commentary on life in New York City in the 1970s. Little Murders subtly drives critique towards several socio-political aspects, including urban life, political corruption, religious institutions, and the justice system.

Alan Arkin, besides being the director, also delivers a memorable performance as the existential Detective Lt. Practice. Practice is seen struggling to find meaning in the chaos that New York City has become and offers a dimension to the nonsensical violence prevailing in society.

The film's ability to commingle satire, comedy, and tragedy without diminishing the effects of either is a testament to Jules Feiffer's sharp penmanship and Arkin's strong directorial hand. The audience is made to experience laughter and shock in equal measure, creating quite an unprecedented cinematic experience. Over the course of 110 minutes, Little Murders brings forth an array of eccentric characters, each diagnosed with their own brand of insanity, stemming from the challenging times they live in.

With a runtime of 110 minutes, Little Murders delivers a stinging and profoundly humorous critique of the violence and absurdities of urban life. Despite its dark spirit, the film manages to mask the grave issues it deals with behind the veil of comedy, making it an engaging film worth watching.

While the story is set in the past, it still resonats today due to its timeless qualities: human vulnerabilities, the struggle to find meaning in life, and the absurdity that is often a part of the human condition. It is praised for its satire, wit, and dark humor, along with outstanding performances, especially by Gould and Rodd, who give nuanced performances that perfectly balance the movie's uniquely grim yet hilarious undertones. For those fond of black comedies and social satire films, Little Murders proves to be an engaging watch.

The film emanates a unique charm where it does not ask for the viewer's sympathy or patience, but requires them to look at the urban world from a comic yet thought-provoking perspective. Little Murders, through its eccentricities and uniqueness, stabs at the audience's collective comfort zone while never ceasing to be entertaining in its absurd and jarringly truthful rendition of 1970s America.

In essence, Little Murders blends the absurdity and violence of everyday life with a dauntless vein of acerbic wit to create a film that is at once disturbing, humorous and riveting. It is an unorthodox yet endearing look at urban decay and human resilience, a captivating dark comedy that poses critical questions about society, life, and man's coping mechanism - humor.