Review of Catch-22 (1970) by Art S — 04 Jan 2013

Joseph Heller's famous novel (which I may or may not have read -- it is here on the shelf) reached the screen in 1970, directed by Mike Nichols. Rumor has it that Orson Welles wanted to helm this and one can only imagine the spectacle that would have been.

Instead, Nichols' version is a bit flat, though spotted with some striking scenes (especially the one with Hungry Joe). Alan Arkin is great, but at this point in time, it seems impossible not to play "spot the 70s sitcom stars" when watching (many appeared in Bob Newhart's first show, I think) and it is a little jarring to see some of them beside Welles, Anthony Perkins, and a fat Martin Balsam.

Ultimately, the insanity and stupidity of war isn't underscored enough for me, as it is a bit too easy to get lost in the capitalistic shenanigans of Jon Voight's Milo Mindbender (although this is perhaps part of the point -- war is business).

But playing in the midst of Vietnam (or Iraq/Afghanistan/Next One), this might have resonated more, depending on your closeness to that reality.