Review of Marathon Man (1976) by Josiah D — 13 Oct 2008
Great pot-boiling tension as director John Schlesinger plays with audience expectation. Dustin Hoffman is good as always but Laurence Olivier (who received an Oscar nomination for this role) and Roy Scheider (1 year after Jaws) steal the show as they command the screen. Brilliant film.
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[SPOILERS].
Watched again last night and Dustin Hoffman's performance came through more this time. I loved his undeterred determination in everything he does - when he's chasing the girl, when he's running, when he's seeking revenge, when he's writing his thesis and his desperate attempts justify his father's suicide.
The scene in the bathroom when Hoffman is trapped and when Scheider turns up at the house dying are as good as the infamous dentist chair scene. The shot of Scheider's dying face is as horrific as anything in The Exorcist, for example.
This review of Marathon Man (1976) was written by Josiah D on 13 Oct 2008.
Marathon Man has generally received positive reviews.
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