Bobby Deerfield (Heaven Has No Favorites) (1977)

22% of critics liked it
(9 reviews)
52% of users liked it
(1,255 ratings)

Starring Al Pacino and directed by Sydney Pollack, Bobby Deerfield stars Pacino plays the title character, a reckless race car driver. As his fame grows, Bobby becomes increasingly full of himself, which seriously jeopardizes his performance on the track and his private life. Marthe Keller plays… More Starring Al Pacino and directed by Sydney Pollack, Bobby Deerfield stars Pacino plays the title character, a reckless race car driver. As his fame grows, Bobby becomes increasingly full of himself, which seriously jeopardizes his performance on the track and his private life. Marthe Keller plays Bobby's aristocratic, enigmatic lady friend, whose tragic secret sets the stage for melodrama. Also on hand is Ann Duperey as a racetrack groupie. Originally released at 124 minutes, Bobby Deerfield was pared down to 99 minutes by director Pollack for cable-TV consumption. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: PG, 2 hr. 4 min.
Directed By: Sydney Pollack
Genres: Drama, Romance

In Theaters: Sep 17, 1977 Wide
On DVD: Mar 16, 2010
Studio: Columbia Pictures

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff, Variety
Abrilliantly unusual love story, told in a European fashion which makes the Sydney Pollack film at first irritating, then intriguing, finally most rewarding and emotionally satisfying.
Vincent Canby, New York Times
Bobby Deerfield may turn out to be the year's most cynical movie made by people who know better, including Sydney Pollack, the director, and Alvin Sargent, who wrote the screenplay.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
This gorgeously shot film is a trifle long at just over two hours; much of the racing footage could have been dispensed with, along with the sudsiest of the emotions.
Peter Canavese, Groucho Reviews
A resonant Pacino...though ultimately a misfire, suggests that there are worse things to call a movie than 'a curiosity.' [DVD review]
Dan Callahan, Slant Magazine
Iffy but interesting early Pacino that rewards another look.
Dan Callahan, Slant Magazine
Pacino is at his best: precise, internal, magnetically cute, and expert at capturing the fear in this man's turtle-like existence and his longing for change.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
A second look at this film reaffirms the first reading, that it's simply dreadful. Among the DVD specials is a preview of Pacino's new thriller 88 Minutes and a ticket to see the film, which opens April 11.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
One of Sydney Pollack's worst films, this sechmaltzy romantic drama about the life and loves of a car racer (poorly played by Al Pacino) has no redeeming qualities in either length; Pollack recut the film to 99 minutes for TV.
, Time Out
A classic example of a Hollywood director being struck down by a lethal 'art' attack as soon as he sets foot in Europe.
, Film4
A turgidly formulaic disease-of-the-week film elevated to cinematic status purely due to the presence of Pacino.

Read all 10 critic reviews

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Mike T

A bizarre misfire from a talented line-up of artists. With such a towering amount of potential, it is peculiar to see Bobby Deerfield as what it is - a mess. Lacking in any sort of distinguishable narrative or character thread, the movie plods off in numerous directions and leaves the… More
A bizarre misfire from a talented line-up of artists. With such a towering amount of potential, it is peculiar to see Bobby Deerfield as what it is - a mess. Lacking in any sort of distinguishable narrative or character thread, the movie plods off in numerous directions and leaves the audience behind. The most interesting aspect of it is Al Pacino's understated acting in the title role. Pacino has stated that out of all the roles he's played, this one is the closest to himself in reality. It is evident that he has a deep understanding of this character, but his depth and nuance is lost in a chaotically executed picture.