I liked the story about scarecrows, it gave resonance to the title of the movie. Lion's (Al Pacino) insistence that they're actually intended to make crows laugh instead of being scared was something I thought about for a while. Between the two principal characters, I think we might have witnessed both versions. Lion found himself scared or bewildered much of the time while partnering up with hitchhiking comrade Max (Gene Hackman), who's reckless attitude toward life echoed the laughter of crows in response to his often violent outbursts and bouts of forced solitude.The fountain scene near the end of the story turned out to be a harrowing harbinger of Lion's catatonic state, coming on the heels of his former gal Annie (Penelope Allen) telling him that their real live son was never born. It was that harsh and mean spirited lie that pushed Lion over the edge, but did you notice? - it was a statue of a lion that Francis clung to when he cracked. It made me wonder if that was just an inadvertent coincidence or whether the scene was specifically planned that way.The conflicted resolution of the story is reminiscent of 1969's "Midnight Cowboy", reminding the viewer that life often doesn't present happy endings. Max's round trip ticket conveyed the idea that he would be back to look in on his road buddy, but one is left with the impression that Lion's condition was more despairing than hopeful. I'd like to think the car wash idea eventually came about, but somehow I have my doubts.

But it saddens me to say that over the years, I have seen much better films that starred the above Hollywood veteran actors. If you think about it, Midnight Cowboy directed by John Schlesinger and starred Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman was a much superior film to watch. My all time favorite film being The Saint of Fort Washington (1993) which starred my favorite actors Danny Glover and Matt Dillon. We also have Brokeback Mountain starring the late Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal.Then we have more action oriented films, the Richard Donner Lethal Weapon trilogy with the pair of actors Danny Glover and Mel Gibson. We also have the superb thriller The Machanic which starred veteran actor Charles Bronson and Jan Michael Vincent.We have comedy films, such as the ones which starred Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder. These were Stir Crazy, See No Evil Hear No Evil, The Silver Streak, Another you.All these above film explore the relationship that develops between two men. In this film we have a recently released ex-con Max(Hackman) who meets an immature ex-sailor Lionel(Pacino). They strike up a friendship. Max confides to Lionel his dream of starting up a successful car wash business. Lionel agrees to help him, but explains that he has some personal problems to take care of before they can start-up the business Max had proposed.The rest of the film deals with unexpected and unforeseen events which occur. Will Max fulfill his dreams? See the film to find out what happens.Verdict: I have watched so many films over the years, both Hollywood and foreign language that I am very well versed. To me this film feels that it lacks the depth to other films of similar plot and genre. The film is well photographed, the actors are professional and the direction is efficiently handled. Note that this is the only Jerry Schatzberg I have ever seen.More Jerry Schazberg films to see: Misunderstood (1984), No Small Affair (1984), Street Smart (1987), Blood Money a.k.a Clinton And Nadine(1988).Gene Hackman Films: The French Connection 1971, French Connection 2 1975, Superman 1978, Superman 2 1980, Superman 4 1987, Narrow Margin 1990, Unforgiven 1992, Crimson Tide 1995, Extreme Measures 1996, Under Suspicion 2000.Al Pacino Films: Dog Day Afternoon 1975, Cruising 1980(Freidkin Masterpiece and a cult film to boot), Scarface 1983, Sea Of Love 1989, Scent Of A Woman 1992(I Highly recommend to you this beautiful film), Carlito's Way 1993, Heat 1995, Donnie Brascoe 1997, Insomnia 2002(a very underrated Chris Nolan film, highly recommended).Add these to your DVD/BLURAY collection and enjoy!

Having already made two New Hollywood classics—'Puzzle of a Downfall Child' (1970) and 'The Panic in Needle Park' (1971)—Jerry Schatzberg delivered again with 'Scarecrow', a compelling road-buddy movie starring Gene Hackman as Max Millan and Al Pacino as Francis Lionel "Lion" Delbuchi. Millan and Delbuchi, both misfits, meet on a lonely California road while hitchhiking and subsequently become friends, would-be business partners, and traveling companions. Recently released from a six-year stretch in San Quentin, the paranoid and pugnacious Max plans to travel to Pittsburgh and open a car wash with earnings saved from prison labor. The mild-mannered Lion, an ex-sailor, counters the world's hostility by playing the fool and is dubbed "Scarecrow" by Max. While Max's ambitions are more or less pragmatic, Lion's motivations are essentially emotional; he has no other plans than to travel to Detroit to give his young child (whom he has never seen) a birthday present—and possibly reconcile with the wife he deserted five years before. After various adventures, including an idyllic interlude with Max's sister and a lady friend and a nightmarish stint in a Nevada work farm, Max and Lion make it to Detroit but Lion is rebuffed by his former wife and told (falsely) that the child she was pregnant with when he left died at birth. Unhinged by the news, Lion subsequently grabs a little boy off the street and proceeds to take him into a massive public fountain (actually Scott Fountain on Belle Isle in Detroit) for purposes that are not at all clear. In the ensuing chaos, Max rescues the boy but Lion falls into a catatonic state from which he will likely never recover. In the end, Max (the allegorical figure for Mind) has no choice but to leave the vegetative Lion (the allegorical figure for Heart) on a gurney in a Detroit psychiatric hospital and to continue on to Pittsburgh by himself. Thus, the film ends in male martyrdom and emotional sclerosis, suggesting that commitment to family is often impossible to sustain and, once abandoned, cannot be resuscitated. This is blamed on women: creatures who are unforgiving, mean, and treacherous; they destroy male homo-social idylls, forcing men to go it alone. Vilmos Zsigmond's gorgeous cinematography and the excellent performances rendered by two of the greatest actors of the modern era cannot obscure what is essentially a celebration of male self-pity. It won the Golden Palm at Cannes and other foreign awards but was a resounding commercial failure—simply too depressing for American tastes. VHS (1992); DVD (2005).

many movies are shadows of its time. techniques, vision, cast, spirit. in this case, all is different. the cause - two amazing actors. a smart script. and the science of details. Al Pacino. Gene Hackman. as axis of an entire universe. so, it is not easy to review it. because , more than a movie, it is reflection of a state of soul, pure romanticism, image of Don Quijote in the American reality. road movie, sparkles of Great Crisis atmosphere, slices of 1970 and importance of small things. a film about friendship. like many others. but different. secret - the courage to be more than part of a time sensitivity. and the perfect performance. that is it !