Bad Timing: A Sensual Obsession

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Bad Timing: A Sensual Obsession

R

Released Oct 23, 1980

2h 3m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

46%

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13 Reviews

74%

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2,500+ Ratings

Alex Linden (Art Garfunkel) is a psychiatrist living in Vienna who meets Milena Flaherty (Theresa Russell) though a mutual friend. Though Alex is quite a bit older than Milena, he's attracted to her young, carefree spirit. Despite the fact that Milena is already married, their friendship quickly turns into a deeply passionate love affair that threatens to overtake them both. When Milena ends up in the hospital from an overdose, Alex is taken into custody by Inspector Netusil (Harvey Keitel).

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Jay Scott

Globe and Mail

Not everything works.

Aug 16, 2022

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Adam Nayman

The Ringer

...perched right on the edge of tastelessness and yet finally more emotionally powerful than exploitative.

Nov 26, 2018

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

This film has been praised for its honesty, but it would have taken far more honesty (not to mention courage) to deal with the personality disorders of these characters instead of simply burying them in blood, sex, and noise.

Rated: 1.5/4

Nov 12, 2018

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Rob Schmieder

Gay Community News (Boston)

Self-indulgent twaddle.

Sep 15, 2022

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Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

[PODCAST] Nicolas Roeg is at his most inventive in this complex erotic psychological drama. Twisted, in a good way.

Rated: A

Jan 19, 2022

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Daniel Barnes

Dare Daniel

Bad Timing gets assembled from the memories and assumptions of multiple unreliable sources. The flamboyantly cinematic camera moves and angles, shock-cut edits and Scorsese-style soundtrack all contribute to a sense of dislocation.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 4, 2019

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Alain E

It’s not going anywhere. I finally gave up after 77 minutes. Two people who cannot be together and cannot be apart, in different localities. This could go on for another six hours.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

12/02/24

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S R

What a shame. What a shame. This could have been so much more than it was, but instead it focused on the perverse ideas of whoever came up with this plot. It's too bad since it being filmed in one of my favorite cities, Vienna, left me sad that they misrepresented life there. It should have been like Before Sunrise that managed to focus on the relationship, rather than sex. Saw it because it was on my Time Out BBF list, I also wanted to see Art G act; now I know why he didn't take off (that hair and forehead). It was on Tubi.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

10/22/24

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Shioka O

Personally I liked the vibe, but the narrative is scattered, maybe intentionally though, it resulted in a bit dull to watch. The singer's performance is somewhat unconvincing.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

04/28/23

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Bernard K

Very bad movie. Sick people, poorly acted, insane story.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

07/14/21

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Audience Member

Recommended, but with serious reservations, depending on whom I was recommending (or not) this to. There's a lot to unpack in this one. It's like a really messed-up Annie Hall crossed with a whodunit, but you're not really sure what the crime is until the end. Speaking of which, I read this passage on the immorality of film in a book earlier on the same day I watched this: "One factor that renders film such an irresistible experience is the opportunity it affords the audience to observe other people without shame." That's a pretty good summation of where your head might be at while you watch this. It will cross the line for some however.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

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Audience Member

This is one of the very best of my favorite films. Each time I watch it, it gets better. Socially realistic, awkward and painful. Such is life.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

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Nicolas Roeg

Director

Art Garfunkel

Alex Linden

Theresa Russell

Milena Flaherty

Harvey Keitel

Inspector Netusil

Denholm Elliott

Stefan Vognic

Daniel Massey

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Synopsis

Alex Linden (Art Garfunkel) is a psychiatrist living in Vienna who meets Milena Flaherty (Theresa Russell) though a mutual friend. Though Alex is quite a bit older than Milena, he's attracted to her young, carefree spirit. Despite the fact that Milena is already married, their friendship quickly turns into a deeply passionate love affair that threatens to overtake them both. When Milena ends up in the hospital from an overdose, Alex is taken into custody by Inspector Netusil (Harvey Keitel).

Director: Nicolas Roeg
Producer: Jeremy Thomas
Screenwriter: Yale Udoff
Distributor: World Northal
Production Co: Recorded Picture Company (RPC), The Rank Organisation
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 23, 1980, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 23, 2017
Runtime: 2h 3m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1), 35mm

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