I have mixed feelings about this film. On the one hand, I admire the way the director, Sidney Lumet, and the editor, Ralph Rosenblum are willing to take chances and challenge us through an unorthodox editing style that reflects the main character's state of mind more than it serves to move the plot along. It should come to no surprise after seeing this film that Lumet came from a theater tradition where he worked for many years as an stage actor and director. His best films are character-driven, and Lumet has a unique ability to get the very best performances out of his actors. The Pawnbroker is as much Lumet's film as it is Rod Steiger's. This is the best performance of a very distinguished career.
That being said, the pacing is slow and some of the plot elements aren't made very clear (such as the money laundering scheme). With the exception of Sol and Jesus's relationship, the rest of the relationships in the film are handled a little sloppily. Despite the incredible and convincing performances, it is sometimes difficult to know exactly what each character expects from one another. There really isn't a goal that drives the plot forward, but that's not necessarily a weakness of the film. Lastly, this is a bleak film; one of the saddest and most hopeless I have ever seen. I would have liked to see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel, but perhaps there can be no "happy ending" for people like Sol Nazerman.
That being said, the pacing is slow and some of the plot elements aren't made very clear (such as the money laundering scheme). With the exception of Sol and Jesus's relationship, the rest of the relationships in the film are handled a little sloppily. Despite the incredible and convincing performances, it is sometimes difficult to know exactly what each character expects from one another. There really isn't a goal that drives the plot forward, but that's not necessarily a weakness of the film. Lastly, this is a bleak film; one of the saddest and most hopeless I have ever seen. I would have liked to see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel, but perhaps there can be no "happy ending" for people like Sol Nazerman.