Review of Wise Blood (1979) by Matthew S — 27 Aug 2015

I saw this when I was a kid and it had just come out. I would see it years later at The Harvard Archive. This is a truly brilliant and often forgotten film.

It is is actually pretty amazing that John Huston was able to come even close to capturing Flannery O'Connor's truly strange novel. More than coming "close," Huston actually equals her twisted book.

Benedict and Michael Fitzgeralds' screenplay is on target, but one really has to credit John Huston with the sheer nerve to tap into the vibe of this O'Connor's darkly comical Southern-Gothica study of free will, sexism, racism, sin and redemption. The infamous novel had a great deal to provoke and shock in the early 1950's. It says something that Huston has just as much to deliver as our country crept out of the 1970's.

Sadly underrated, Brad Dourif is cast in the leading role. And he is the perfect actor to capture "Hazel Motes" down to the very bones. Even more tragically underrated, Amy Wright, is equally potent in bringing "Sabbath Lily" to life. Add The One & Only Harry Dean Stanton to the mix as "Asa Hawks" and you have the perfect storm of actors to bring this experimental film to the full boiling point.

This is also the best work that the late Cinematographer, Gerry Fisher, ever did. In my opinion this movie is very nearly flawless. It has been "over-looked" for years. Criterion released it within their collection a while back. Fingers-crossed that they will soon do a 4K remaster to blu-ray/HD format.

While many consider this to be a Cult Film, I think it a cinematic masterpiece. See it and prepare to be challenged.

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