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Klute
1971 114 min United States of America R 18+
★7.0
Thriller, Mystery, Crime, Drama
Trailers
EN
Teaser
EN
Description
A high-priced call girl is forced to depend on a reluctant private eye when she is stalked by a psychopath.
Budget:
$2.5M
Worldwide:
$12.51M
Awards
Academy Awards 1972
— Best Actress
Golden Globe 1972
— Best Actress (Drama)
Golden Globe 1972
— Best Screenplay
BAFTA 1972
— Best Actress
Academy Awards 1972
— Best Adapted Screenplay (Unpublished Material or True Facts)
Key opinion
Klute is widely regarded as a foundational, atmosphere-driven neo-noir that prioritizes psychological character study over traditional thriller mechanics. While Jane Fonda's complex performance is frequently cited as the film's standout achievement, opinions regarding the film's pacing, narrative structure, and Donald Sutherland's stoic acting style are deeply divided.
| Cinematography | Gordon Willis’s cinematography uses claustrophobic framing and low-light techniques to effectively cultivate an atmosphere of urban unease and confinement. | |
| Acting | Jane Fonda’s nuanced portrayal of Bree Daniels, characterized by its vulnerability and layered psychological depth, is widely considered a career-defining performance. | |
| Pacing | The film’s slow, contemplative pacing rewards viewers who value character-focused drama, but leaves others feeling that the narrative lacks momentum and drive. | |
| Screenplay | Critics are split on the screenplay: some praise its bold fusion of psychological intimacy with noir tropes, while others argue the mystery plot is contrived and secondary to the character arc. | |
| Acting | Donald Sutherland's performance is polarizing; some view his detached, stoic presence as a necessary anchor for the film, while others find his portrayal wooden and static. | |
| Ending | The film's ending divides audiences, with some appreciating its character-driven resolution and others finding it unsatisfying or tonally inconsistent with the preceding thriller elements. |