Ralph Bakshi’s ‘Cool and the Crazy’: A Dull Farewell to a Once-Great Filmmaker!

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#8 in my ranking of Ralph Bakshi’s filmography.

After the disappointing reception of his movie «Cool World», Ralph Bakshi moved on to direct a film for Showtime based on an old script he’d had for over two decades. Despite his extensive experience in feature films since the 70s, this production seemed more like the work of a novice rather than a seasoned professional. However, it’s not surprising given that Ralph Bakshi was involved. The film managed to attract future stars like Alicia Silverstone and Jared Leto, with Leto in particular giving an impressive performance. Unfortunately, the movie offers nothing but a continuous flow of tired stereotypes, uninteresting characters, and half-baked ideas disguised as wisdom, offering no genuine intrigue from start to finish.

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Michael (Leto) and Roslyn (Silverstone) were sweethearts from high school who tied the knot immediately after graduation, started a family, and have been grappling with the elusive joy they envisioned from the American dream. He earns too little and spends too much time away. She is burdened with taking care of their child (and possibly holding down a job as well), and their intimate life lacks excitement. Joannie (Jennifer Blanc), a friend of Roslyn’s, embarks on an affair, which seems to bring her joy, sparking the idea in Roslyn. One day, she finds herself drawn to Joey (Matthew Flint) and decides to ride home with him when he catches her eye. Their relationship quickly turns into an affair (the seduction scene is so overtly sexual and unappealing it can only be attributed to Bakshi), and Michael eventually discovers it. Arguments and shouting matches ensue. Both Roslyn and Joannie are horrified at the suggestion that Michael might suspect they were having affairs. Eventually, Roslyn and Michael decide to part ways due to her continued association with Joannie.

Michael develops a relationship with his coworker Lorraine (Christine Harnos), who is a bohemian and finds Michael’s high-society mannerisms peculiar. She expresses her disapproval by telling him that he yearns for something unattainable — essentially, a content marriage.

The storyline involving Roslyn Joey expands as Joey despises his own wife, exhibits thuggish behavior, dabbles in drug dealing at times, and murders people on other occasions, while maintaining control over Roslyn and manipulating her. Despite their past, Roslyn and Joannie recognize the good aspects of their respective marriages, even though life was somewhat monotonous. They attempt to reconcile, but the story requires a dramatic conclusion, so there’s chaos in the café, a car chase, and an attempted murder to resolve things. However, it turns out that Michael and Roslyn do not end up together.

This movie leaves me utterly unimpressed. Instead of offering fresh perspectives, it seems to rehash outdated societal norms that were already shattered decades ago. In fact, it’s reminiscent of the satire that Ralph Bakshi has been subtly critiquing since his early work, such as «Fritz the Cat.» However, unlike his previous works which used animation and a supposedly biting satirical tone, this one adopts a straightforward, melodramatic approach.

Previously mentioned, Leto delivers his role as Michael wholeheartedly, but the portrayal leans towards caricature rather than a fully developed character. Regrettably, Silverstone struggles (her acting abilities are simply not exceptional) in a part that seemed effortless. The standout performance is Flint’s interpretation of Joey, primarily because he gets to explore the true madness hinted by the film’s title. However, the overall production feels shallow and lacks depth. There’s little substance to engage with here.

It’s clear that Ralph Bakshi’s work on feature films lacked understanding and skill, as this latest project serves as the definitive evidence. This piece is a fatal blow to his career, which he deserved due to its uninteresting rather than painfully dreadful nature. I suppose it’s somewhat remarkable that it’s not as terrifyingly awful as expected, though.

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2025-02-12 00:15