Kind of a waste. There was a story buried somewhere but it took way longer to evolve than it should have. The escapades should have started earlier than the hour mark and the ramp up should have started earlier than in the last 10 minutes.
Oftentimes felt like a Woody Allen romp without the spicy dialogue.
Once again I am here to defend a movie that's apparently hated now despite being in a bunch of lists and having won an Academy Award. I guess a mostly harmless womanizer is unbearable to watch-- ironic, since the movie itself is critiquing the hypocrisy of such hardline moral judgements. I didn't see Jones committing any rape so I don't understand what some of these other comments are going on about. He's the one being seduced -and sometimes objectified- by the women in most of the scenes. He is unfaithful and emotionally neglectful, yeah. I suppose that's unforgivable. But it is a movie made in the 1960s based on a 1700s picaresque novel. I don't know what people expect. The film itself is a satire about high society in the manner of later films by Chabrol or Ostlund. There are no great speeches or misery porn to make us weep. It just shows these characters and their grotesque attitudes-- their own behavior will help us see the flaws in a social system that both rewards their ridiculous beliefs and makes them blind to their own hypocrisy. A lot of playful editing choices and fourth wall-breaking gags. Finney and York are hilarious and so goddamn fucking beautiful. I thought this was a blast. The worst thing I can say about it is that it's a bit inconsequential overall and some sequences go on for way too long.
I must agree with Classical Lady. The 'hero' of this movie is the very embodiment of toxic masculinity: he likes women, he hunts (XVIII century England), he drinks, and he's a soldier. The excellent cinematography, the brilliant acting and directing, the great adaptation of an enduring masterpiece of the Western Canon - a comedy of manners that denounces the hypocrisy of conventional morality and the subjection of women in society - are by no means redeeming features. Also the innovative camera work, fast pace and general feeling of benign levity only contribute to its odiousness. And it's funny too... Ugh, ghastly.
I think you summed it up well, Thorkell. It won't be among my favourites, but it doesn't deserve all the hate it's getting (like: "worst Oscar winner ever!").
I kept wondering, what the heck is going on? If I took my eyes off the screen for a moment, there was a different woman Finny was chasing, fondling or otherwise debasing. This isn't the worst film I've ever seen but it sure is up there.
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Comments 1 - 15 of 17
Skyscore
http://www.afisha.ru/movie/174240/review/218489/Dieguito
I never know if these movies represent the best or the worst of English comedy!! The opening music already starts irritating you!!Torgo
Oh my, no one deserves this.
domah
dreadful, absolutely dreadfularsee
extremely horrible movieForzelius
Kind of a waste. There was a story buried somewhere but it took way longer to evolve than it should have. The escapades should have started earlier than the hour mark and the ramp up should have started earlier than in the last 10 minutes.Oftentimes felt like a Woody Allen romp without the spicy dialogue.
Paravail
Oh yeah, this was totally the best movie to come out in 1963. Sooooo much better than The Great Escape.george4mon
i'm with greenhorg, The great escape has stood the test of time and should have won instead of this crap.Aleril
Don't listen to those two, this is a very funny film. Must see!Warrison
This movie one step (and a small one at that) up from a Carry On movie.ucuruju
Once again I am here to defend a movie that's apparently hated now despite being in a bunch of lists and having won an Academy Award. I guess a mostly harmless womanizer is unbearable to watch-- ironic, since the movie itself is critiquing the hypocrisy of such hardline moral judgements. I didn't see Jones committing any rape so I don't understand what some of these other comments are going on about. He's the one being seduced -and sometimes objectified- by the women in most of the scenes. He is unfaithful and emotionally neglectful, yeah. I suppose that's unforgivable. But it is a movie made in the 1960s based on a 1700s picaresque novel. I don't know what people expect. The film itself is a satire about high society in the manner of later films by Chabrol or Ostlund. There are no great speeches or misery porn to make us weep. It just shows these characters and their grotesque attitudes-- their own behavior will help us see the flaws in a social system that both rewards their ridiculous beliefs and makes them blind to their own hypocrisy. A lot of playful editing choices and fourth wall-breaking gags. Finney and York are hilarious and so goddamn fucking beautiful. I thought this was a blast. The worst thing I can say about it is that it's a bit inconsequential overall and some sequences go on for way too long.D.Fernandes1685
I must agree with Classical Lady. The 'hero' of this movie is the very embodiment of toxic masculinity: he likes women, he hunts (XVIII century England), he drinks, and he's a soldier. The excellent cinematography, the brilliant acting and directing, the great adaptation of an enduring masterpiece of the Western Canon - a comedy of manners that denounces the hypocrisy of conventional morality and the subjection of women in society - are by no means redeeming features. Also the innovative camera work, fast pace and general feeling of benign levity only contribute to its odiousness. And it's funny too... Ugh, ghastly.Gershwin
I think you summed it up well, Thorkell. It won't be among my favourites, but it doesn't deserve all the hate it's getting (like: "worst Oscar winner ever!").greenhorg
7.0 on imdb. 8th worst 'Best Picture' winner. 'The Great Escape' (#110 on the top 250) wasn't even nominated.ClassicLady
I kept wondering, what the heck is going on? If I took my eyes off the screen for a moment, there was a different woman Finny was chasing, fondling or otherwise debasing. This isn't the worst film I've ever seen but it sure is up there.Showing items 1 – 15 of 17