Review of Reds (1981) by Tom F — 15 Oct 2006

Gotta love a film that entertains at the same time as makes you think about things. The characters in "Reds" are faced with moral dilemmas throughout the film. I love character-driven films and "Reds" takes that love to the max -- three hours and thirty minutes of characters.

As far as the dilemmas, at critical points in this 3:30 film, Jack and Louise are forced to make a choice between their personal relationships with each other and the revolutionary cause of Socialism/Bolshevism. Along with the politics, this is a love story. Perhaps even first and foremost, this is a love story.

But, what I also liked about these moral dilemmas was what they brought out in me. I pictured myself in the characters' situations and thought about what path I would take. As a political liberal that is vehemently opposed to the current adminstration's tactics, I wonder: would I be a socialist when the Russian Revolution was a bud of idealism? Would I really buy a worker-run economy? Or am I benefitting from history?

Regardless of the conclusion, any film that gets me thinking this much is certainly a good film, perhaps even a great film. I loved it. I wouldn't put it amongst the all-time greats -- it is close -- but there is something not quite expressive enough in the performances of both Warren Beatty and Diane Keaton.