Growing up can be a time of epic but simultaneously pointless inner turmoil. Jim Stark (played naturally by James Dean) is a troubled youth, moved from town to town by his parents, the dictatorial mother Carol (Ann Doran) and her gutless husband Frank (Jim Backus). On the first night of their move Jim gets wasted and finds himself hauled to the police station, where he meets Ray Fremick (Edward Platt), a mentorial figure, which quickly influences Jim's mindset. Even the best intentions to behave are fraught with risks, as wildboy Buzz and his school gang don't intend to make the new kids stay easy...
An unspeakably influential and prototypical movie "Rebel without a cause" is at times a captivating experience, but nonetheless were it not for the unsurmountable screen presence of James Dean it should have never been anything more than a B-movie outing. Nonetheless James Dean imprints himself on viewers from the word go with movement and facial expression, which seem way ahead of his time. Capable of selling even the most corny lines with some pizazz it is no wonder why the actor gained such cult status given his measly amount of film credits. The beginning of the movie seems also infinitely better scripted and acted by the whole crew, while Jim's and Ray's first encounter is absolutely riveting stuff. Nonetheless the mood of the movie quickly dissipates into cardboard characterisation, implausibilities (pronouncing love after several hours of a relationship) and idiosyncrasies, which make it hard for you to really accept the movie as groundbreaking or meaningful. In the end it feels well-meant, but badly written.
The whole Plato character (Sal Mineo) - a rich kid, who hardly has contact with either parents, incessantly feels as if poorly portrayed and scripted. Given he is key to the drama of the final third of the movie "Rebel Without a Cause" fails to keep up the tone set out in the first act. The whole rebellion thing is covered by a very thin layer of build-up, making it an initially well-thought out concept, but one that fails to make a sale. After hitting a couple of notes right the whole affair rings fake and overly orchestrated.
Nonetheless he experience of experiencing James Dean is sole reason, why the movie is worth a decent, if not overtly critical, look.
An unspeakably influential and prototypical movie "Rebel without a cause" is at times a captivating experience, but nonetheless were it not for the unsurmountable screen presence of James Dean it should have never been anything more than a B-movie outing. Nonetheless James Dean imprints himself on viewers from the word go with movement and facial expression, which seem way ahead of his time. Capable of selling even the most corny lines with some pizazz it is no wonder why the actor gained such cult status given his measly amount of film credits. The beginning of the movie seems also infinitely better scripted and acted by the whole crew, while Jim's and Ray's first encounter is absolutely riveting stuff. Nonetheless the mood of the movie quickly dissipates into cardboard characterisation, implausibilities (pronouncing love after several hours of a relationship) and idiosyncrasies, which make it hard for you to really accept the movie as groundbreaking or meaningful. In the end it feels well-meant, but badly written.
The whole Plato character (Sal Mineo) - a rich kid, who hardly has contact with either parents, incessantly feels as if poorly portrayed and scripted. Given he is key to the drama of the final third of the movie "Rebel Without a Cause" fails to keep up the tone set out in the first act. The whole rebellion thing is covered by a very thin layer of build-up, making it an initially well-thought out concept, but one that fails to make a sale. After hitting a couple of notes right the whole affair rings fake and overly orchestrated.
Nonetheless he experience of experiencing James Dean is sole reason, why the movie is worth a decent, if not overtly critical, look.