Busting

 

Busting (1974)

A Gritty, Authentic 70s Time Capsule

★★★½☆

Watched 12 Jan 2025 — A visceral, edgy crime gem that captures the authentic energy of mid-70s Los Angeles.

Directed by Peter Hyams, Busting is a standout representative of the character-driven crime films of the 1970s. Elliott Gould and Robert Blake deliver affable, grounded performances as grunt vice cops whose routine work on mediocre crimes leads them into a much larger case. The film boasts a grit and urgency that remains relevant today, utilizing on-location sets and a "lived-in" aesthetic where the performers actually look like real people rather than polished movie stars. It is a cinematic event that avoids the pitfalls of network television tropes through creative technical execution.

"When audiences remark that they don't make movies like that anymore, they are referring to films like Busting... It has that visceral, edgy energy of hungry artists trying to make their mark."

— Ray Manukay

🎬 Cast & Crew

• Director: Peter Hyams
• Starring: Elliott Gould, Robert Blake
• Supporting: Cornelia Sharpe, Antonio Fargas
• Cinematography: Earl Rath

The Vision

This is a pre-Baretta Robert Blake and pre-Capricorn One Peter Hyams, and that "hungry artist" energy permeates every frame. Hyams utilizes interesting tracking shots and unique camera angles to elevate the slice-of-life story into something genuinely cinematic. The vision focuses on authenticity; save for Cornelia Sharpe's high-class call girl, the cast feels authentic to the streets of LA. While the stakes might not reach the operatic heights of The French Connection, Hyams succeeds in making a "smaller" film feel vital and urgent.

🎬 Cinephile Fun Facts

• Directorial Debut: *Busting* was the feature film directorial debut for Peter Hyams, who would go on to direct *2010: The Year We Make Contact* and *Timecop*.
• The "Lethal Weapon" Blueprints: Many critics cite this film as a primary influence on the ["buddy cop" genre](https://en.wikipedia.org), specifically for its mix of banter and gritty realism.
• On-Location LA: The film features extensive footage of the now-demolished [Main Street in Downtown Los Angeles](https://www.movie-locations.com), serving as a valuable historical record of the city's 1970s landscape.

✅ Pros

• Authentic, gritty production value and on-location filming.
• Excellent chemistry between Elliott Gould and Robert Blake.
• Unique cinematography and tracking shots by Peter Hyams.

❌ Cons

• The ending feels somewhat rushed and anti-climactic.
• Lower stakes compared to blockbusters like *Serpico*.
• Occasional pacing issues inherent to "slice-of-life" narratives.

🏆 Final Verdict

A forgotten gem of 70s crime cinema that deserves way more recognition. It's the kind of film that inspires a deep binge of the era's gritty police procedurals. Authenticity at its finest.

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