Hal Ashby is as underrated as Robert Altman is overrated but like the similarly talented Alan J. Pakula and Robert Mulligan his career hit the skids during the insipid 1980s. Ashby didn’t survive to see a better day but I’m not sure a second act was forthcoming.
1970 The Landlord
1971 Harold and Maude ***
1973 The Last Detail ***1/2
1975 Shampoo ****
1976 Bound for Glory ****
1978 Coming Home ***1/2
1979 Being There ****
1981 Second Hand Hearts ***
1982 Lookin’ to Get Out
1982 Let’s Spend the Night Together ***
1985 The Slugger’s Wife
1986 Eight Million Ways to Die