Atlantic City (1980): Underrated by [Unkown Director]?

Okay, so I just finished watching Atlantic City (1980) and I'm kinda blown away. I went in blind, honestly, just looking for something with Burt Lancaster because I'm on a big Lancaster kick after seeing Sweet Smell of Success (that movie changed my life, btw). The plot description made it sound like a standard crime thing, but man, it was so much more nuanced than that. I couldn't find the director, but they did a great job. What really struck me about Atlantic City was the way it handled the characters. Lancaster as Lou was just so...pathetic and charming at the same time? It's hard to explain. The way he spies on Susan Sarandon's character, Sally, initially feels creepy, but then it evolves into something almost sweet in a weird way - like he's genuinely fascinated by her dreams. And Saraandon's performance? Top tier. The scene where she's lemon-ing her skin...wow. That perfectly encapsulates her character's desire for something better but also the inherent sadness of her situation. I also loved the way the film portrayed Atlantic City itself. It wasn't just a backdrop; it felt like another character, with all its decaying glamour and shady dealings. The plot is a bit all over the place, I'll admit. It's like a bunch of different stories colliding, but somehow it all works. The pacing felt a bit slow in places, and the whole drug dealer subplot isn't like, brilliant writing, but the performances are outstanding and I found myself completely invested in Lou and Sally's little twisted love story. I'm honestly surprised I hadn't heard more about this film before. It's definetly got that 70's/80's New Hollywood feel I love and I feel like it deserves more love. Has anyone else seen it? What'd you all think? I'm curious to know if I'm the only one who got so into it :)