Review of Sadgati (1981) by Brandon S — 15 May 2010

A very special live action episode of King of the Hill.

While that description might not be flattering to some, I mean it to be. Burt Reynolds manages to play a character who has no toothy grins to show off in between scenes. Ronnie Cox is dead on with his portrayal of a man who refuses to lose his way even under extreme circumstances. Jon Voight proves his acting potential through scenes that show how overwhelming the choice of kill or be killed can be for some. Ned Beatty delivers a flawless performance as a man who after enduring the worst form of psychological punishment forced on the four men, manages to be the voice of calm and reason.

A very chilling tale of what happens when progress interferes with the group think mentality of a community which is forced to endure the callous judgment of higher minds while knowing that everything they've grown to love will soon be gone. The four main characters learn that they're accordingly not welcome despite every attempt to connect and that they're in a different world of reason than they've come to know.

There's a lot more to this movie than its iconic scene, of which those who have never seen the film are aware of. This movie is a masterpiece of presentation and content.