AUTO FOCUS
(a film review by Mark R. Leeper)
CAPSULE: Robert Crane of HOGAN'S HEROES was a popular
and good-looking TV actor who got pulled into a
whirlpool of sex, lies, and videotape. This is the
true story of his fall. The film is partially
enjoyable for its nostalgic 1960s feel and partially
for its cautionary biography. Be warned, this is a
film with a great deal of nudity. Rating: 6 (0 to 10),
+1 (-4 to +4)
Bob Crane was one of the more familiar and amiable stars of 1960s situation comedies, starting as the friendly next-door neighbor on "The Donna Reed Show" and at his high point playing the title role on "Hogan's Heroes." His handsome looks and his mild likable style opened doors for him. He was a devout Catholic who balanced a career, his family life, and his initially well-covered sex life. He had a life of success and self-indulgence. "Likability is 90% of the battle," he says in AUTO FOCUS. That same style destroyed his private life. He let his looks and his fame open the wrong doors until he became a sex addict. His behavior ruined two marriages and destroyed his professional career. Eventually in 1978 he was murdered under circumstances that were never officially determined.
AUTO FOCUS is the story of his rise, his corruption, and his very hard fall. Crane becomes friends with John Carpenter (played by Willem Dafoe). (This Carpenter was no relation to the director of that same name.) Carpenter had two passions, sex and the then- emerging field of consumer video recording. Both of these hobbies he shares with Crane. The sex parties become orgies which the two videotape and to watch over and over.
A big problem with AUTO FOCUS is that few people remember Bob Crane and mores have changed so the story is no longer really relevant as an object lesson. The moral attitudes represented, like the recreated segments of "Hogan's Heroes," have what is almost a nostalgic feel. The problem is that there is not a lot of dramatic tension in this film. We see what is happening and know where it is going with no real surprises. The film comes off as a "True Confessions" expose, but really loses its shock value in the age of the story. Its value may be more voyeuristic than anything else.
Paul Schrader usually directs very dark films. Here he balances that with a credit sequence with a mod Sixties situation comedy look, unusual territory for Schrader. Greg Kinnear plays Crane with much the same basic affability though perhaps not the same good looks. Dafoe is always enjoyable to watch on the screen. He has the same griminess as James Woods but plays a little more real. Ron Liebman has a minor role as Crane's good-hearted agent. Angelo Badalamenti scores.
I rate AUTO FOCUS a 6 on the 0 to 10 scale and a +1 on the -4 to +4 scale. This film has a great deal of explicit nudity.
Mark R. Leeper
mleeper@optonline.net
Copyright 2002 Mark R. Leeper
========== X-RAMR-ID: 33126 X-Language: en X-RT-ReviewID: 797639 X-RT-TitleID: 1116784 X-RT-AuthorID: 1309 X-RT-RatingText: 6/10
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