Saint Jack

In Singapore circa 1971, Gazzara is an American pimp who tries to become an independent operator. This arouses the anger of the local mobsters who want to put him out of business. He finally knuckles under after heavy pressure and goes to work for an American mobster (played by director Bogdanovich in a good quirky performance). He's forced to photograph an important senator in the arms of a young male prostitute, but eventually Gazzara's conscience catches up with him. The film uses the locations well and Gazzara's performance is an actor's dream. But SAINT JACK never quite becomes the "important" film it seems to aspire to be. The story is told in too meandering ...