Thanks for the thoughtful review. I came to this film later in life and I have come to appreciate its beauty and I think it's Antonioni's greatest work. I wonder if you might consider the film through the lens of a Catholic allegory. Beginning in the desert as spiritual battles often do, he decides to "leave the old man behind" and takes on the new identity. Of course he first needs the water (baptism) to begin the transformation. The Church scene in Munich focuses on the stations of the cross on the wall and Nicholson is depicted in front of the tabernacle (where Jesus is kept in the form of the Eucharistic host). Perhaps Nicholson is agreeing to "take up his cross." Barcelona could be seen as the Garden of Eden as many of the backdrops suggest. The meeting with Schneider takes place in a house built by the Catholic architect Gaudi who was known as "God's architect." She mentions Gaudi was "hit by a bus." Perhaps the girl is symbolic of an angel or the Virgin Mary as she asks "How can I help?" At the 2nd meeting on the terrace of the Gaudi house, we briefly see an elderly man on a lower balcony say "nada" in an angry tone. Could this be Antonioni suggesting Christ centered spirituality is above the nothingness of existentialism? The clincher for me was the couple stopping at a bar called Fatima(famous apparition site of the Virgin Mary) to get directions for the final ascent. Also Schneider gets on the bus with San Miguel (Spanish for St Michael the Archangel -remember the hit by a bus quote) painted prominently on the exterior to meet him in Glory or the Hotel de la Gloria. So in short, Nicholson found the "keys to the kingdom to unlock the character of Locke. I'm not sure if Antonioni had a sort of conversion from a communist/atheistic belief system, but something tells me he did. Anyway, thanks for your analysis and channel.

2 comments. Wow, this chnnel is the Definition of a hidden gem. Very well articulated movie reviews, actually one of the best movie channels imo. Also you look like derek from moreplatesmoredates made a early decision to focus on the finer things in life instead of bodybuilding.

I just watched it for the first time and really liked it. It’s fantastically filmed and thought out. Jack N is at his best here and does a beautiful job. Definitely not an action movie as you say but still compelling and you end up rooting for him in spite of very dubious choices he’s made. The very end confuses me though. Was he dead? Btw, I really liked Maria Schneider in the film, she was beautiful and understated.

I don’t agree with your view on Schneider in this film. She’s a great existential foil to Nicholsons confusion and alienation however brief the moment.

Blow Up, Zabriskie Point and The Passenger are all movies that resonated with me and are movies I retain to revisit.

Your reviews are great man. Ive been going back and watching some of the old classics that I missed, also because I miss the pace of those old movies. Those 70s Jack Nicholson movies are great. The only one I really didnt like is The King of Marvin Gardens have you seen that?