Born to Win
dir. Ivan Passer · 1971
Plot
J.J., a former New York City hairdresser, commits petty crimes, often with his friend Billy Dynamite, to support his drug habit. He's not very good at it, with something often going wrong. One of J.J.'s more regular gigs is working as a mule for Vivian - who J.J. calls Geek Man to Vivian's chagrin - a pimp for who J.J.'s ex-wife, Veronica, also a junkie, now hustles also to support her habit. J.J.'s life has the potential to change the result of two encounters. One is with a pair of NYPD narcs who have him over a barrel concerning his drug use and what they want out of him to make a drug conviction go away. Two is with a young woman named Parm who he meets in the act of one of his crimes. J.J. and Parm enter into a relationship, the love and support within that makes J.J. want to come out on top for once in his life.
Why watch
J.J., a washed-up hairdresser turned petty criminal, navigates the gritty streets of 1970s New York City, often accompanied by his equally hapless friend Billy Dynamite. As he juggles his drug addiction and a series of misadventures, the film captures the absurdity of his life and the fleeting moments of connection he finds with others. Watching it feels like wandering through a city where hope flickers like a dying streetlight, illuminating the dark corners of human experience.