HARVEY KEITEL 'THAT'S THE WAY OF THE WORLD' CYNTHIA BOSTICK

Harvey Keitel and Cynthia Bostick driving fine YEAR: 1975

A music group's outright propaganda vehicle, promoting the soulful funk band Earth, Wind & Fire. And with Harvey Keitel as a sane version of record-producing phenom Phil Spector, this should've been a goldmine... or at least silver...

But THAT'S THE WAY OF THE WORLD spends too much time on an uninteresting romance between Keitel's Coleman Buckmaster and the lead singer of a white milquetoast singing trio, who have as little talent as Earth, Wind & Fire's fictional band The Group has soul and motivation. Sadly, we only see the latter jamming twice: the best during an opening credit sequence liken to, say, a car racing flick with a line of rod rods revving at the starting gate as The Group warms up each instrument with funky delight in the studio. Then when Keitel's given the task to instead record a single for the other outfit, called The Pages, the ingenue alone is the best thing going: But mostly for her looks — think exploitation starlet Angel Tompkins had she joined The Partridge Family morphed with a disco-era Bridget Fonda... 

A Very Cool Seventies Movie Font

Introducing Cynthia Bostick as one of those progressive 1970's women who says what she means and holds little back, acting like cocky go-to dudes from the 1950's while making the producer/artist courtship anything but subtle, or intriguing. She practically throws herself into Keitel's arms, and there could have been worthy sparks flying, especially in the recording studio where things go way too smoothly for both. As an actress, Bostick only has three credits to her name (the rest on television). And ironically, the only other character with potential is a tough-looking Italian played by a tough-looking Italian with this as his only vehicle...

Way of the World RATES: **1/2

Charles McGregor, as a mobster-like mogul who seems more fitting a gritty crime drama where an awkwardly mainstream Keitel would have fared better, has a way of making threats without saying much to ass-kissing/sellout underlings Michael Dante and Ed Nelson, both repeating the exposition/plotline mantra — that Keitel's "Buck" needs to think about money over artistic integrity...

So it's that much more frustrating for Earth, Wind & Fire not having a more active part, musically and otherwise, and it seems like Maurice White and company were ready and willing — this could have been their very own ROCK 'N' ROLL HIGH SCHOOL, and four years beforehand. Ultimately, a fantastic twist end explaining how Keitel bedded down the ingenue so quickly, and without any obstacles, makes up for the slow, uneventful buildup. But overall, as an attempted realistic/edgy glimpse into the music industry, THAT'S THE WAY OF THE WORLD simply doesn't pay enough dues.

Opening Credit Sequence for THAT'S THE WAY OF THE WORLD

Earth, Wind & Fire's Maurice White's sole Abbey Road stroll in THAT'S THE WAY OF THE WORLD

Cynthia Bostick and Harvey Keitel in That's the Way of the World

Martin Scorsese stock actors Harvey Keitel and Murray Mosten in That's the Way of the World

Cynthia Bostick, Bert Parks and Jimmy Boyd ("Mommy Kissing Santa" guy) in That's The Way of the World

Cynthia Bostock and Harvey Keitel in That's the Way of the World

Cynthia Bostick, Bert Parks and Jimmy Boyd's Enjoy Cocaine T-shirt  in That's The Way of the World

Cynthia Bostick and Harvey Keitel in That's The Way of the World with Valerie Sheperd

Cynthia Bostick in That's The Way of the World with Murray the K and Hot Tuna

Cynthia Bostick as Velour Page in That's The Way of the World

Cynthia Bostick in That's The Way of the World with Harvey Keitel

Cynthia Bostick in That's The Way of the World with Ed Nelson

Cynthia Bostick in That's The Way of the World

Michael Dante and scene-stealing potentially good villain Charles McGregor in That's the Way of the World

Harvey Keitel in THAT'S THE WAY OF THE WORLD

Opening Credit Sequence for THAT'S THE WAY OF THE WORLD with Larry Dunn

Groovy intro for THAT'S THE WAY OF THE WORLD w/ either Johnny Graham or Al McKay

Probably Al McKay and definitely Verdine White of EARTH, WIND & FIRE in That's the Way of the World

Earth, Wind & Fire in the studio from their own movie THAT'S THE WAY OF THE WORLD

Opening Credit Sequence for THAT'S THE WAY OF THE WORLD

Opening Credit Sequence for THAT'S THE WAY OF THE WORLD

Opening Credit Sequence for THAT'S THE WAY OF THE WORLD with fan-favorite, Verdine White

And Then When Worlds Collide as Cynthia Bostick stakes with members of Earth, Wind & Fire