ffreemon

I will give my opinion first. This is the greatest film ever made with one proviso: I don't understand it. The failure to understand is, like the film itself, difficult to understand. As one watches, trying to get the gist, one first realizes that one is not understanding, next, that one is not getting the gist, next that you (not the change from one to you), are unlikely to ever understand it, next that I will never understand it, next that I do not even want to know what it is about. One thing I know for sure: the section on IMDB that lists "awards" fails to list "Best film Welles wrote about Redbud".

Real life does not divide all humans into good guys and bad guys and neither does this movie. The cops are a fellowship of dedicated men led by a loser who is so determined to perfect his craft that he has destroyed his three marriages. He has no friends and the only person he does not shout at is the head of the robbers. The gang of robbers are all individuals. They are honest with each other but do not hesitate to murder a guard who saw too much. So who are the good guys and the bad guys? There is a set of characters who are REALLY bad. The women are all individuals with their own hopes and lives. None are cops. One wonders if the fellowship of the homicide squad would have deteriorated if one of their numbers had been a woman. Do not miss this film. I recommend you see it twice, the second time you can appreciate the characters and the events without worrying about what happens next.

I am watching this film on TV right now. If you are in the mood, it is hilarious. "How did you sleep?" "Terrible. I was up all night, trying to get the window open." "The room doesn't have a window." "No wonder I couldn't get it open." The movie is a terrific period piece (early 60s), with sight gags (man cutting steak with a newly invented electric knife cuts the table in half), period references (hitching a ride from the Beverly Hillbillies). Every B actor from the 1950s has a walk on, and even some greats like Milton Berle and Danny Thomas can be seen. If you want some kind of incredible plot with tricky double crosses and new sports cars driven off bridges, pass on this. If you feel like fun, lean back and laugh.

I just saw this on TV. Reading the other reviews, I am struck by my different take. I think all the other reviewers like traditional films with a beginning, a plot, boy loses girl, boy finds girl, bad guy is killed, hero kisses the horse. This is not like that at all. You think you are following the story rather well and then, zoom, you are off in another story. Despite the fact that the plot doesn't follow a predictable course, I never lost interest. I never knew what was happening next. I never figured out some things. Who was the guy who was killed in the beginning? Summary: this is certainly a movie worth seeing if you do not try to fit it into a mold that exists in your mind but not in life.

The opening scenes grab you and push you back into your seat. The two stars of the film have just lost their spouses in an air crash. They must identify the bodies. Harrison Ford discovers his wife was sitting next to a man in first class so he calls upon the wife of this man. He suspects that they might have been having an affair. Harrison Ford is such a good actor; he leads you into the film and won't let you go. This is a bit unfortunate because the story slowly deteriorates. No viewer can miss what is going to happen next but this review will not tell you just in case someone new to American cinema fears "a spoiler." The acting is so good that the film can hold your interest, but it does not seem to live up to its riveting beginning.

What is the message of this film? It is hard to watch all these kids who have been dealt a bad hand. One expects Burt Lancaster to pull out his automatic and start blasting bad guys. Eventually it becomes obvious this is not possible. But those of us raised by Hollywood expect miracle cures of at least some of these kids. The great ending involves a skit put on by the children for their parents. The kids are so brilliant, Judy Garland tries so hard to bring out their best. What is the message? You must play the hand you are dealt. A re-deal is not possible; life has no Mulligans. The kids do their very best and the parents enjoy their accomplishment with limited abilities. One of the actors has a striking resemblance to the girl who plays his daughter in the film; I bet she is his real daughter.

This is just so hilarious I can't believe it. The dog has trouble finding a costume. Then he knows he needs a catch phrase in order to make a great entrance. He tries "No need to worry, underdog is furry." This does not sound right to him. He also rejects "No need for fright, underdog is bright." Finally he comes up with a terrific phrase, but this review will not tell you, not wanting to include a spoiler. He is attacked by three super-bad dogs, who obey their evil master. They must obey because they are German (shepherds). But underdog uses dog fellowship psychology to turn the tables. On and on are the hilarious dog activities. Be sure to stay for the outtakes at the end.