Straight Time

R

Released Mar 18, 1978

1h 54m

Crime

Drama

List

83%

12 Reviews

Tomatometer

83%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

A career criminal, Max Dembo (Dustin Hoffman) is determined to go straight after his latest stint in prison. He takes a mindless job in a cannery, patiently endures the abuse of his pompous parole officer, Earl (M. Emmet Walsh), and begins a romance with a sympathetic girl from the employment office, Jenny (Theresa Russell). But when Earl erroneously busts Jack for drug abuse, the ex-con cracks, assaulting Earl and setting off on a reckless crime spree.

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David K

Outstanding cast pulling off some of the best performances of their careers. Dreaded watching but glad I did. Dustin Hoffman has never been better.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/29/24

Full Review

StephenPaul C

The most criminal 01 hour: and 54 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Starring Dustin Hoffman!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/15/23

Full Review

Brian N

I liked the basic story of the movie….but I didn't believe for a second Jenny would fall for Max, it's totally absurd. The rest of the movie is great though.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

bill n

Movie was made in 77/1978 please don' let the production date deter from this good movie that has stood the test of time...standout performances from Theresa Russell and Dustin. very glad i came across Straight Time and watched it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Shioka O

Harmless crime film, not quite entertaining. Solid performance.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

10/13/22

Full Review

Audience Member

"Open the gate!" Surely the most personal Hoffman movie cause he almost directed it. It turns around the question of recidivism, the circle of criminality, the bottomless pit offered by the Justice system. We can only feel sympathy for the main character who tries his best to "be straight", finds an exhausting job, a filthy place to live, and even a girlfriend (whose natural beauty resides in her sweet humanity).

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

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Ulu Grosbard

Director

Dustin Hoffman

Max Dembo

Theresa Russell

Jenny Mercer

Gary Busey

Willy Darin

Harry Dean Stanton

Jerry Schue

M. Emmet Walsh

Earl Frank

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Gary Arnold

Washington Post

There are authentic, gripping elements in the firm. An overwhelming starring performance could have unified those elements emotionally.

May 10, 2017

Full Review

Mitchell Beaupre

Paste Magazine

Hoffman’s gives a remarkably grounded portrayal which feels like a shift after a decade of excellent performances that were more in the realm of nervy, enigmatic, capital-C characters. Here he’s just this guy, an ordinary man trying to make it.

Rated: 10/10

Mar 17, 2023

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

One of the most unflinching movies ever made about the criminal mindset.

Rated: 3.5/4

Oct 2, 2021

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...a slow-moving yet completely captivating character study...

Rated: 4/4

Jun 17, 2021

Full Review

Roger Moore

Movie Nation

Hoffman's greatest performance of the '70s.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jun 5, 2021

Full Review

Bernard Drew

Gannett News Service

There is hardly a minute that convinces, a scene that really works.

Nov 1, 2019

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

A career criminal, Max Dembo (Dustin Hoffman) is determined to go straight after his latest stint in prison. He takes a mindless job in a cannery, patiently endures the abuse of his pompous parole officer, Earl (M. Emmet Walsh), and begins a romance with a sympathetic girl from the employment office, Jenny (Theresa Russell). But when Earl erroneously busts Jack for drug abuse, the ex-con cracks, assaulting Earl and setting off on a reckless crime spree.

Director: Ulu Grosbard
Screenwriter: Jeffrey Boam, Edward Bunker, Nancy Dowd, Michael Gutmann, Alvin Sargent
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Production Co: First Artists
Rating: R
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 18, 1978, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2009
Runtime: 1h 54m
Sound Mix: Mono

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