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Ivan Passer's BORN TO WIN is a fascinating, though widely overlooked, time capsule that reflects the down-and-dirty New York City of the early 1970s. In a career filled with memorable performances, George Segal is once again astounding as J, a heroin addict whose life has begun to spiral out of control. No longer interested in being a hairdresser, J spends his days searching for another fix. Along the way, he meets Parm (Karen Black), another weary soul who clings desperately to J. As J gets more and more lost in the haze of his addiction, he must face up to the junky life that has trapped him.
BORN TO WIN marks Czech director Passer's first foray into American filmmaking. While his unflinchingly honest approach to the material may have contributed to the picture's lackluster box office return (as opposed to, say, Jerry Shatzberg's THE PANIC IN NEEDLE PARK), the film nonetheless remains a vital contribution to the canon of 1970s American cinema. This can be largely attributed to Segal and Black, who have never been better. Robert De Niro even shows up for a pre-MEAN STREETS appearance.
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