I knew about DANIEL for years because it's one of Sidney Lumet's less remembered movies and since I am like the major expert on lesser movies (judging from most of the titles I rated and/or reviewed here in 8 years), one day I would have finally seen it. That day arrived last June, and I found it merely ok.
When it begins we hear Daniel Isaacson's (Timothy Hutton) voice explaining how the electric chair works and after these first minutes we are introduced to the Isaacson family when Daniel's sister Susan (Amanda Plummer) becomes obsessed with revolution and Daniel thinks that his family is kinda marked. This because his parents Paul (Mandy Patinkin) and Rochelle are accused of being Soviet spies, so Daniel will investigate until their parents' unevitable execution.
I liked and disliked DANIEL. From one hand Sidney Lumet's style is evident, and the acting by Hutton in the title role and Plummer as his sister was great. But on the other hand it's a bit too long considering the subject matter and I think that if they would have cut 25 minutes it would have been better. Also, scenes of the present are intervowen with scenes and Daniel and Susan when they grew in an institution because they weren't allowed to stay in the same household with their parents, and the cuts were simply a distraction. Yet, but this counts as another plus, the execution scenes were very realistic like when they happened in real life (and still happen in a few States).
Overall, a mixed bag from one of America's most acclaimed directors but if you can separate its shortcomings from its strong points, you still have a decent story with some great acting, and for this reason alone I would recommend it since it's also available on YouTube.
When it begins we hear Daniel Isaacson's (Timothy Hutton) voice explaining how the electric chair works and after these first minutes we are introduced to the Isaacson family when Daniel's sister Susan (Amanda Plummer) becomes obsessed with revolution and Daniel thinks that his family is kinda marked. This because his parents Paul (Mandy Patinkin) and Rochelle are accused of being Soviet spies, so Daniel will investigate until their parents' unevitable execution.
I liked and disliked DANIEL. From one hand Sidney Lumet's style is evident, and the acting by Hutton in the title role and Plummer as his sister was great. But on the other hand it's a bit too long considering the subject matter and I think that if they would have cut 25 minutes it would have been better. Also, scenes of the present are intervowen with scenes and Daniel and Susan when they grew in an institution because they weren't allowed to stay in the same household with their parents, and the cuts were simply a distraction. Yet, but this counts as another plus, the execution scenes were very realistic like when they happened in real life (and still happen in a few States).
Overall, a mixed bag from one of America's most acclaimed directors but if you can separate its shortcomings from its strong points, you still have a decent story with some great acting, and for this reason alone I would recommend it since it's also available on YouTube.