Review of The Swimmer (1968) by Justin L — 29 Sep 2007
A great spook out tragedy which unpacks Ned Merill's (Burt Lancaster) fall from grace in the plastic candy land of 60s boom time middle class America; symbolically and heart breakingly pool by pool along the Lucinda River (named after his beloved wife) Ned's life unfolds for us in retrospect through interactions with past acquaitances whose lives, alcoholic rinsed and jaded through middle aged wealth, juxtapose an enduring and enthusiastic romanticism which makes Ned Merill an all the more tragic figure.
If you can swallow the naivety of some of the dialogue and the cheesiness of some of the imagery then you may find this strange movie both amusing and heartbreakingly sad.
Favourite line... 'This filter removes ninety nine point ninety nine point ninety nine percent of all matter in the water'.
This review of The Swimmer (1968) was written by Justin L on 29 Sep 2007.
The Swimmer has generally received very positive reviews.
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