Curse of the Starving Class Movie Review

Subtlety is in short supply in Sam Shepard's Curse of the Starving Class, a first effort by director J. Michael McClary. James Woods overacts like he never heard the expression “less is more,” and his co-stars Kathy Bates, Randy Quaid, Louis Gossett Jr., and a maggot-ridden lamb all seem to follow his lead. I can imagine few movie experiences more painful than to watch this movie on a double bill with Silent Tongue, another Sam Shepard turkey. Would it have been any better if Bruce Beresford had directed as well as adapted the script? Maybe, but we'd still be stuck with the brother taking a leak on his sister's 4-H project, for reasons best known to Shepard. woof!

1994 (R) 102m/C James Woods, Kathy Bates, Henry Thomas, Kristin Fiorella, Randy Quaid, Louis Gossett Jr.; D: Michael McClary; W: Bruce Beresford; C: Dick Quinlan. VHS, LV, Closed Caption