Reviews

I didn't like this movie either, but not for the reasons that are usually given. I liked the plot, the acting, the hyper-stylistic, and the cinematography. The pacing is slow but I thought it was appropriate. What I didn't like was its depravity? It seems that there are so many talented directors and actors wasting good films to fulfill the needs of violence junkies who want more and more repugnant imagery. In this film, you witness someone slicing an eyeball and a son eviscerate his own dead mother. It's pointless and depraved. Drive had some shocking violent imagery too, but I felt it was kept in check. In this movie, it was as if they had to add some abhorrent gore scenes to appease money-hungry producers and a desensitized fan base whose addiction to violence only grows more perverse.

The movie has its merits, but the violence is sure to turn off most viewers.

I think the heaps of otherworldly praise this movie gets is going to skew it for the first-time watcher. It did for me. The movie did affect me. It was very gripping and well-done. The acting and direction were all really good. The plot is original and keeps you intrigued. But overall, I have to agree with what a lot of other naysayers on this board have said. 'Oldboy' really doesn't mean much. The whole revenge plot was just a really contrived, over-the-top, completely unrealistic idea hatched by a psychotic. I think one of the big problems is that the movie doesn't delve into the main perpetrator's character. I mean I know why he did it, but why is he so psychotic. What made him first want to sleep with his sister and then punish a man so brutally for her suicide, which he only indirectly caused. And why did he have so much money? He wouldn't have been able to pull off this job without heaps and heaps of money. It would have been nice to have that back story. That's only one of a couple plot holes here. Plus, there are a lot of elements in this movie that just don't make much sense...they are only in there for shock value. Such as the scene where the main protagonist eats a live octopus. What was the point? Then in the beginning there was the guy who was about to kill himself. The protagonist would not let him jump off the building until he told his story. Then he kills himself. What was the point of making the man suicidal? And what does the one line repeated over again mean: 'Laugh and the world laughs with you, weep and you weep alone." It really doesn't have any relevance to a movie which is basically about a kooky revenge scheme concocted by perverted Bill Gates-like tycoon. Overall, this movie has great style, but is too violent and has no real thematic point.

McCabe and Ms. Miller focuses on two 'undesirable' characters that were mainstays of the American frontier, but have rarely been represented in the Western movie genre: the gambler and the madam. However, this movie goes to show how important these two were in shaping the West. Ultimately, the promise of the open west as a land for entrepeuners is wiped out by the corporate monopolies. Civilization comes in and has no room for the independent businessman.

At least, thats what I took from this movie. Style-wise, the photography and location are excellent. The acting, especially Julie Christie, is very good as well.

Personally, I find Altman to be both infuriating and fascinating as a director. His very loose style, filled with mumbles and multiple conversation, requires very active participation from the viewer. However, for whatever reason, his movies feel incomplete to me. Maybe, because you feel more like you and Altman are evesdropping on a scene, rather than being led through a narrative.

Plus, the ending is a real downer!

I just saw it and I have to say it's really like no film I've ever seen before. Style-wise, it still seems as fresh today as it did 50 years ago. Not only is it a great example of film noir, but I believe the movie transcends that genre. While it's set up like a noir film, I believe its trying to say something greater concerning the Cold War and the A-Bomb. While i love the film noir genre, which has created some of this country's greatest art, usually our detective "hero" uncovers a plot involving murder, blackmail or deception with the catalyst being simple human emotions like greed and lust.

While the character motivations are similar, primarily Hammer's own greed, the end result is something far more darker than just an insurance fraud (Double Indemnity) or climbing the social ladder(Farewell, My Lovely). At the bottom of Hammer's detective work lies nuclear annihilation.

The violence in this movie is pretty graphic for its time, such as when Hammer knocks a thug's head repeatedly against a wall or slams a desk drawer on someone's hand. The movie also oozes sex. Its interesting to note that Hammer repeatedly turns down women's advances. His primary motivation is greed.

I could go on and on about this movie, but I really believe this is a truly great, original movie. 10 out of 10