The One Film Cillian Murphy Says You Have to See
Cillian Murphy once shared his admiration for a classic film that left a lasting impression on him as a young viewer.
The actor revealed that the movie in question is Scarecrow, a 1973 road drama directed by Jerry Schatzberg and starring Al Pacino and Gene Hackman.
Murphy explained that he first came across the film by chance. “We took it home and it turns out it’s the 1972 movie directed by Jerry Schatzberg with Al Pacino and Gene Hackman,” he said.
At first, he expected a horror movie, but he and his brother decided to watch it anyway. “Accepting it wasn’t in fact a horror, we basked in what was an acting masterclass from both Pacino and Hackman,” Murphy added.
The film tells the story of two men traveling across America, attempting to start a business in Pittsburgh. Murphy described it as “kind of like a road movie… really a love story, a platonic love story between these two outsiders, these loners.”
He reflected on the impact it had on him: “It made a huge impression on me at that age… even though I didn’t end up acting in film properly until my mid-20s, it’s a film that I watch over and over again. It’s a film that I give to actor friends and director friends who might not have seen it, and I think it might be one of my favourite films.”
Scarecrow had its premiere at the 1973 Cannes Film Festival, where it tied for the Grand Prix du Festival International du Film with Alan Bridges’ The Hireling. Despite critical praise, the film struggled at the box office in the U.S. Critics, however, widely celebrated the performances of Hackman and Pacino.
Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film three out of four stars, comparing its story to Of Mice and Men and Midnight Cowboy. He praised the writing, setting, and acting. Vincent Canby of The New York Times described the lead characters as “classic drifters” and “marvelously realized.”
On review aggregator sites, Scarecrow holds a 76% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 34 critic reviews, and a Metacritic score of 72 out of 100, reflecting generally favorable reviews. Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian called it “a freewheeling masterpiece” during the film’s 2013 re-release, and described Hackman and Pacino as giving “the performances of their lives.”
Plans for a sequel were explored years later, with a screenplay completed in 2013 that would have reunited Max and Lion. However, the project was never realized, partly due to Hackman’s retirement and a lack of studio support.
Murphy’s comments highlight the enduring influence of Scarecrow on actors and filmmakers alike. “It triggered something in my mind,” he said, reflecting on the way the performances shaped his early understanding of film and storytelling.
What do you think about Murphy’s pick for a life-changing movie? Have you seen Scarecrow, and did it leave a similar impact on you? Share your thoughts in the comments.
