Review of On the Waterfront (1954) by Chase K — 15 Dec 2008

[font=Georgia][color=black]I hate taking this approach to classic films, but [i]The Searchers[/i] tried my patience greatly -- it's a very nice looking film and John Wayne's aura is plentiful, but I found it severly lacking in many areas. [/color][/font].

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[font=Georgia][color=black]A) it's decidely not as visually grandiose as, say,[i] Once Upon a Time[/i] [i]in the West[/i] and is matched by an overbearing, incessant score that will ring your ears. B) the severe mood swings kept me at a distance, just look at the scenes between Vera Miles and Jeffrey Hunter -- they're extremely overacted, even for 1956. If this is the crowning achievement of John Ford, I think I may take a pass on the rest -- at least for now.[/color][/font].

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[font=Georgia][color=#000000][i]On the Waterfront [/i]was a movie I could get behind, It's a rare animal and features an obviously historic -- but rightfully so -- performance by Marlon Brando. The after-the-fact unraveling of Terry Malloy (Brando) combined with the timid sympathy crush of Edie (Eva Marie Saint) made him a tragic and intriguing character. [/color][/font].

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[font=Georgia][color=#000000]It's not necessarily a visual film, although several scenes on the docks and the conversation between Brando and Saint in which he reveals "the secret" are standouts. I loved it, though -- rarely does such an old film pin you to your seat.[/color][/font].

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[font=Georgia][color=#000000][i]Doctor Zhivago[/i] -- I was surprised how good this often looked-over David Lean epic is, and it may be better than [i]Lawrence of Arabia [/i]or [i]Bridge on the River Kwai, [/i]although I loved all of those.[/color][/font].

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[font=Georgia][color=#000000]It's essentially an even longer (200mins) version of [i]Reds[/i], dealing with the political and civil war dealings of the Russian Revolution slathered on top of an epic romance. Lean's films -- especially for their time -- are all extravagantly filmed, and although the sand-swept tracking shots of Lawrence of Arabia probably can't be topped,[i] Zhivago [/i]impressed me endlessly. My favorite scenes are right after you switch the discs (yes, it's that long) that follow the titular doctor (Omar Sharif) as he attempts to get he and his family out of the city on a ten day train ride complete with a maniacal Klaus Kinski![/color][/font].

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[font=Georgia][color=#000000]There are memorable characters, a romantic love saga, a politcal revolution, and snow-blanked battle scenes -- it's a new favorite of mine.[/color][/font].