Review of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) by Jennifer X — 17 Jan 2009

This film fairly pulsates with style. The reason I keep on coming back to these play adaptations despite frequent heavyhanded disappointments (see: Doubt) is because I know what they are capable of, if handled correctly.

The material is all there: densely packed with emotion but sated with quietude, beautiful people playing beautiful parts and believing in them too, the succulent taste of words words words. All it needs is a strong rope to string all the pieces together.

Tennessee Williams has a tendency to read too dramatic and it takes cinema to soften up the dizzying emotions. The transitions between LOUDquietLOUD are flawless. Paul Newman and Liz Taylor are pure sex.

I also appreciate the homosexual undertones. One of the best movies I have seen in a long, long time.