5/5 One of the better "man searching for missing girl" filma
  by One-Line Film Reviews (Easton, MD)
The Bottom Line:

Better than Taken, 8MM, or (dare I even say it?) The Searchers in showing how the obsessive quest to find a lost girl in a seedy milieu corrupts the man trying to find her, Hardcore is perhaps sometimes guilty of exploiting the pornographic material it wallows in, but it's a powerful film that deals in shades of moral ambiguity and is all the better for it; writer-director Paul Schrader--who penned Taxi Driver--brings the audience another dehumanizing urban environment with this film and delivers quite a memorable movie.

3.5/4

5/5 Hardcore religion v.s. hardcore hedonism
  by - Durrkk (Ohio/PA border USA)
Paul Schader's "Hardcore" (1979) stars George C. Scott as Jake VanDorn, a rigid Calvinist who goes to Southern California to search for his 15 year-old daughter who disappeared during a church youth convention in Disneyland. A hired p.i. (Peter Boyle) finds his daughter on a cheap porn flick so Jake eventually masquerades as a porn producer to find her. Ultimately a young, lost prostitute, Niki (Season Hubley), assists him and they develop an almost father/daughter relationship.

Since "Hardcore" deals heavily with the sex industry of the late 70s it's obvious that the film isn't for everyone, but if you can handle it this is a nigh work of genius. Part drama, part thriller, with a bit o' black humor thrown in for good measure, "Hardcore" is simply fascinating.

As another reviewer so perfectly notes, "Hardcore" explores the dichotomy and similarities of people who live 'hardcore.' Jake's Dutch Calvinist religious faith is so hardcore and rigidly structured that he can explain it in-depth with an acronym (TULIP), whereas the sex industry of S. California is hardcore in a wildly hedonistic manner. The lifestyles couldn't be more different and yet there are similarities. Niki points out to Jake that they aren't so different -- he feels so little about sex that he doesn't even do it, while she cares so little about sex that she doesn't care who she does it with.

This is a smart film that doesn't spell everything out, but if you watch it closely details emerge. For instance, why did Jake's daughter fly the coop? Why did his wife divorce him? It becomes clear that the VanDorn household was overly rigid and sterile; there was little life, joy, and love (intrinsic Christian qualities). The most toxic poison was Jake's hardcore pride, which he weepingly repents of in one potent scene.

But this is far from some anti-Christian film, although it shows the obvious flaws of Jake and his denomination's religosity, Jake clearly plays the deliverer and the sex industry is portrayed as the ugly, deceitful mire it is. This is one of the few mainstream modern films where the protagonist's Christian faith is overtly depicted. The film doesn't shy away from exploring Jake's faith -- and testing it. There's even a prolonged scene where Jake explains the Calvinist credo to Niki. How many Hollywood films allow a character to spend five minutes elaborating on theological niceties? This alone highly distinguishes the picture.

Despite Jake's serious pride issues and the sterility of his household, his Calvinism comes off better than the hedonism of late 70's L.A. Jake is on a crusade into the land of infidels and is admirable in that he puts himself in harm's way to find his daughter, and he never succumbs in a land of a thousand temptations. If the Midwesterners are depicted as stern and brittle, at least they are better off than the hedonists of S. California, and the sex industry is a slippery slope that leads to dissatisfaction, addiction and death.

Some complain that it's not believable that Jake's daughter would take such a radical turn toward the sex industry, but let's keep in mind that it's easy for a naive, inexperienced girl to get swept up into something she can't control. And for every bad thing that happens to her throughout the five months, one thing remains steady is that it's her father's fault. At least from her point of view. "Drama..." the hallmark of every teenaged girl. Also, don't think that she chose the new life knowing everything up front. It's a slow spiral into hell. The first few steps are exciting and the rest are horrible but tolerable. As you decend, the cumulative effect is balanced by the hardness one gains. You aren't 'hardcore' the moment you step off the bus, so to speak.

The first hour starts to get rather tedious with Jake's intro to the sex industry and ensuing search for his daughter but, take heart, the story picks up in the second half with the introduction of Niki. Her relationship with Jake, I believe, is the heart of the picture. We meet this totally lost and humble prostitute and we (and Jake) inexplicably come to like her. She was a runaway of sorts who started turning tricks in Vegas at the young age of 15. Can she be blamed for the hideous hole life has thrust her into? (In a way, yes, but that's another subject; let's have some compassion here!). She acts hip but at the same time is desperately seeking a savior. Jake merely hires her to help in his search and unexpectedly finds himself getting close to her and enjoying her company, and vice versa. Jake isn't in any way, shape or form an evangelist but he finds that he can open up and freely discuss his Christian beliefs with Niki, and she's just as free and comfortable to discuss her beliefs (she's a Venusian, whatever that is -- lol!). "Hardcore" is so incredible and original because these characters are real and they talk, I mean really talk. What's more, although Niki is a pathetic, lost prostitute she has amazing insight into things. For instance, although Jake informs her that his wife died, she "guesses" that she actually divorced him and also discerns why she left. Yet, she's not arrogant about her insights; she's obvioiusly highly gifted and yet wasting her life away in the sex industry.

Some complain about the ending but I think it works fine; it's happy in one way but downbeat in another. Regardless, it rings of authenticity (not the contrived Ratan theatrics). I won't discuss it here because I don't want to spoil it for those who haven't seen the film, but I will say that, in a perfect world, Jake would have "rescued" a certain person.

I was in Las Vegas recently and came across a prostitute like Niki (albeit not as anorexic). She was very young and therefore still beautiful; she looked at me with eyes of feigned desire, likely to pick up some business. In the film such girls are written off as "a dime a dozen." I guess no one cares about such people.

I do.

5/5 A must watch
  by Monica A. Barrera
This is a must see movie. You will want to watch it over and over and then share it with your friends.

5/5 Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids exposed!
  by Calvin VanDutchma
Finally, someone made a movie about this strange place of Grand Rapids, MI in which, I call home as of now, but hope not to in near future. This place sucks and is run by these Dutch CRC people. To bad I didn't know about this movie 20 years earlier. It exposes this cult type religion and there business ventures who try to control the city. DeVos, Van Andel, Meijer and all you DeVries people, this movie exposes your puke like life style. You guys and this town make me sick!

3/5 Powerful, But A Tough Movie To Watch
  by Craig Connell (Lockport, NY USA)
This is an extremely sordid movie, but one you never forget. I saw it in the theater 30 years ago and it was shocking then, so much so that I've only seen it once since and have no desire to see it again. It just left such a bad taste in my mouth.

This is a frightening picture of the pornography business 30 years ago featuring about everything you can think of in that seedy world. Unfortunately, the story centers around finding a girl from a "religous" family and the father, played by George C. Scott, is painted as something of a fanatic. He's portrayed as a cold and violent figure. (Hey, Hollywood isn't going to portray a Christian father as kind and loving.) Yet, Scott is not all that bad because he still is extremely dedicated father who went to all lengths to get his daughter back.

This movie really shows the sleazy side of the entire porno business and, thankfully, it doesn't glamorize any of it. Peter Boyle is good as the detective and Season Hubley is interesting as the prostitute who gives you her ideas on life in the business.

This is a fascinating film in parts but also very tough to view in a number of areas. This may sound naive, but when I saw this in 1979, I was stunned that this type of sick-underbelly of a society existed....at least to this degree. I can't imagine what's out there today.

In summary, a very powerful but brutal movie to watch, especially if you have kids of your own.