Review of Touch of Evil (1958) by Professor S — 19 Oct 2011
The cliched critic will always start a review of Touch of Evil by talking about the fantastic opening tracking shot, not me, no. I'll start off by talking about Charlton Heston playing a Mexican, I didn't even notice, quite frankly because I didn't realize he was supposed to be a Mexican. Now about that opening tracking shot, it's fantastic. What's that word for something that blows your mind?... Ah, I'm sure I'll think of it later, but that's what this shot is, mind-fellatio, no that's not it. It's not great just because it's super long, it's not great just because it's super complex, no it's great because it establishes the movie. Without its opening shot Touch of Evil would be a mess: mystery, horror, comedy, noir, psychoanalysis, romance. It's that shot, and the fact that it introduces all of these genres, and builds up a relationship to the main characters, that sells the picture.
Plus, Orson Welles was born to play a corrupt cop, and that scene with the gang of thugs harassing Janet Leigh in her motel room is terrifying, and Marlene Dietrich is in it.
It may not always be perfect, again I cite Charlton Heston as a Mexican (Charlton Heston as a Mexican, that's like casting Lassie as the Taco Bell Chihuahua), but it can be pretty darn good.
This review of Touch of Evil (1958) was written by Professor S on 19 Oct 2011.
Touch of Evil has generally received very positive reviews.
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