Review of Author! Author!
Starring Al Pacino

JT Williamson  8-13-90

Author! Author! was released in 1982, one year before Al Pacino's next film, Scarface.
Even though these two films were made only one year apart, they couldn't be anything less
than on opposite ends of the spectrum.  Author! presents to us Ivan Travalian (Pacino),
a sometimes successful playright in New York. His wife leaves him, along with the baggage
of 5 young kids from her previous marraiges.  So, Travalian must have his upcoming play be
a success in order to be able to afford all the youngersters (which he desperately wants to do).

Pacino makes an uninteresting character, well...interesting.  He keeps the movie afloat just
enough to keep our attention.  There are lots of small bits of comedy, but they are in very small
pieces.  Dyan Cannon is enjoyable as Alice Detroit, the leading star of Travalian's play.  Alan King
plays Travalian's producer.  He is a good complement to Pacino,  adding a somewhat offbeat flow to
the film.  All the kids are mildly enjoyable, even if a bit annoying.  But, in the end, the plot just isn't
strong enough to warrant serious interest,even though Pacino tries his best.

Pacino fans must see this film.  The character is like no other played by Pacino.   The satire mixed
with comedy shows that he can do more than kill people and foreign accents.  But, lets not kid
ourselves.  The film isn't that great.  2 on a scale of 4.