Ivan Passer's Born to Win is a fascinating, though widely overlooked, time capsule that reflects the down-and-dirty New York City of the early 1970s.
In a career filled with memorable performances, George Segal is once again astounding as J.J., a heroin addict whose life has begun to spiral out of control. No longer interested in being a hairdresser, J.J. spends his days searching for another fix. Along the way, he meets Parm (Karen Black), another weary soul who clings desperately to J.J. As J.J. gets more and more lost in the haze of his addiction, he must face up to the junky life that has trapped him.