(1978) In the first half of director Ulu Grosbard's portrait of a criminal mind, based on Edward Bunker's novel, No Beast So Fierce, Max Dembo (Dustin Hoffman, in an unusual role), released from San Quentin State Penitentiary after serving a six-year sentence for armed robbery, appears the victim of his parole officer's inflexible, hardnosed attitude. In the second half Max's authentic character as an intelligent, experienced thief emerges.

From Max's first meeting with Earl Frank (M. Emmet Walsh) of the California Department of Corrections he's found wanting for not having reported to the halfway house on his first night in LA. "You've got to earn trust," Frank counsels A-20284 (with a rap sheet going back to age twelve), giving Max - who says he just wants self-respect, a job, a decent life - a week to get settled and find employment.

Taking a room in the Garland hotel for $18 a week (though Max later tells Frank he's paying $17), Max goes to the Gale Goodwin Agency to apply for work where cute Jenny Mercer (Theresa Russell), herself recently hired, interviews him and suggests the National Can Company. When he gets the job, he asks her out for dinner to celebrate. In the restaurant he explains the difference between being judged outside ("by what you got in your pocket") verses inside prison ("what you are"); he needs her help to pay the bill.

Contacting a buddy from the past, Max spends the evening with Willy Darin (Gary Busey), a former con turned riveter, who introduces Max to his wife Selma (Kathy Bates) and young son; Selma, however, tells Max she doesn't think the two should be together (violation of parole). But when Willy drives Max back to the hotel, along with a piece of plywood for firming up the soft mattress, the riveter lights up some dope in the room, upsetting Max because getting caught could cost him another three years in the slammer.

The next day, returning from work and looking forward to another outing with Jenny, Max discovers Frank waiting for him in the hotel room. He's met Frank's conditions, but under the bed the parole officer notices burned matches (Willy's), leading him to suspect Max of using drugs. After being hauled down to LA County Jail for a urine test, Max gets locked up for a week without his knowing why.

Concerned when Max didn't show up for their date, Jenny learns of his being arrested and visits him, leaving her phone number for when he gets out. Giving Max an excuse that he'd been busy all week, Frank, conceding that the test indicated no drugs, has come to take the parolee to the halfway house; he asks Max, as they're on the freeway, who was in his room with the drugs. Max snaps, grabbing the steering wheel and punching Frank, as the car swerves dangerously through traffic: "You busted me for nothing!"

Leaving Frank unpantsed, cuffed to a fence near a freeway exit, Max drives off, entering an underground of bars and joints he navigates knowingly, collecting on favors owed, receiving tips (in a motel in the valley a group of elderly men play poker with $20,000 on the table), and talking with those who want a piece of the action. (The author of the novel, also one of three screenwriters, has a bit part as Mickey.)

Partnering with a felonious friend, Jerry Schue (Harry Dean Stanton), the pair rob a bank and heist the ice from a jewelry store. Staying with Jenny (whose character, other than being in love, lacks depth - her motive for wanting to be with Max, harboring a fugitive after he's jumped parole, when she appears to have a stable life is left unexplained), a temporary anchor to normalcy, is all that remains of the Max from the beginning. When Jenny asks if his outside work will be a one-time thing, Max answers: "Depends on how lucky I get."

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