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| marantzo |
 Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2006 11:15 am |
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Good review, gromit. I first saw Compulsion when I went to a sneak preview. The used to be on Tuesday nights at one of the neighbourhood theatres. They were always movies that hadn't opened yet, and you didn't know what movie it would be. Does anybody remember those?
Well the movie opened with Chicago 1924 (or some such date) and we all thought Capone, which was opening shortly. There was a definite disappointment when the title Compulsion came on the screen. I don't think anyone in the audience knew a thing about it or it's subject matter. It didn't take long to realise it was a film about Leopold and Loeb. I and I think everyone else in the theatre really liked it. I'm sure that was the first time I'd seen Stockwell in an adult role and I'm sure I had never seen Dillman at all. Dillman was very good as the edgy evil one, but I was bowled over by Stockwell's performance. He became one of my favourite actors from that night on. Now that I think of it, he reminds me of an earlier Johnny Depp type of screen presence.
I read the book not long after I'd seen the movie and the book is also very good. The movie is a faithful representation of the book.
And another thing, it was obvious to me at the time that there was a homosexual relationship between the two. It's been a long time since I last saw the movie so I can't be sure if that's because it's subtly suggested by things in the movie or just an inate knowledge that a partnership like that would probably have an homosexual basis. |
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| billyweeds |
| Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2006 11:19 am |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 20618
Location: New York City
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It seems as if he's saving his words for his long closing monologue (long, but good ... an anti-death penalty speech apparently taken from Darrow's actual 12 hour-2 day summation).
Nice review of Compulsion except for this sentence, which unfairly underplays the brilliance of Welles's acting. IMO it's his finest screen moment. (I agree it's a tradeoff, however--Stockwell and Dillman get shunted aside a bit.)
Are you aware that Dillman, Stockwell, and Welles split the Cannes Film Festival Best Actor award that year? I think it's the only time there's been a triple winner. |
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| marantzo |
| Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2006 11:38 am |
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| I didn't know that Billy. It's almost 50 years late, but I'm happy about that. |
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| gromit |
| Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2006 11:43 am |
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Joined: 31 Aug 2004
Posts: 9015
Location: Shanghai
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Quote: It seems as if he's saving his words for his long closing monologue (long, but good ... an anti-death penalty speech apparently taken from Darrow's actual 12 hour-2 day summation).
Didn't mean it to sound condescending. Was just making a small joke. I liked the way that Welles' lawyer is cagey and clever dealing with those around him using few words. But when it comes time to do his job, he switches gears and delivers a heartfelt speech. I think that says alot about the character. I quite enjoyed Welles in this role, as he just takes it over with his presence. But it does change the thrust of the film.
The film is actually pretty solid as a courtroom drama. It effectively depicts legal strategy, especially the decision to plead guilty and thereby avoid a jury trial, trusting instead that Welles/Darrow can persuade a judge against a death sentence. EG Marshall as the district attorney is also effective during the investigation and trial scenes.
I also liked the ending with professed atheist lawyer (Welles/Darrow), suggesting that God had a hand in the failure of the crime. It allows him to differentiate his respectful doubting from the killers' cold certainty that God is dead. |
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| gromit |
| Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2006 11:48 am |
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Joined: 31 Aug 2004
Posts: 9015
Location: Shanghai
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Was just IMDB-ing the film, and thought this was interesting :
Quote: Trivia: Because Orson Welles was having tax problems during the production, at the end of shooting his salary for the movie was garnished by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. This upset Welles so much that just before he finished looping his dialogue in post-production, he stormed off the studio and left the country. All that was left to be looped was the last 20 seconds of his end speech in the courtroom. Incredibly, editor William Reynolds fixed this problem without needing Welles. Reynolds took words and pieces of words Welles had spoken earlier in the movie, and pieced them one by one into those 20 seconds.
Makes me want to go back and check this out. |
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Killing your enemies, if it's done badly, increases their number. |
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| lshap |
| Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2006 11:57 am |
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Site Admin
Joined: 12 May 2004
Posts: 4248
Location: Montreal
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Shannon - I just watched "Hard Candy" last night, and though I agree with most of what you said, I don't think the film was trying to subvert the porn genre. The girl, Haley, was no Lolita. At least not after the first 15 minutes. In fact, they took great pains to make her as asexual and boyish as possible for most of the story - close cropped hair, no makeup, shapeless clothing. She had a nice smile, but any hint of femininity, such as it was, went poof after her motives were revealed.
The story was a straight out suspense thriller, and a pretty good one. I though both leads were very good, which is even more impressive considering about 98% of the entire screenplay was a dialogue between just the two of them. The evolving story between predator and prey reminded me of "Misery", except the premise of a 14-year-old girl having such dominance over an adult male felt a little pre-fab to be believable. It was fun, but the film was consciously going for the thrill without much logic or point beyond the adrenaline. |
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| Marj |
| Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2006 2:45 pm |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 10497
Location: Manhattan
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Having never seen Hard Candy, I have to say I'm intrigued. Both Shannon's and Lorne's takes on it, while very different are very interesting.
And Gromit, you've made me want to see Compulsion again. Excellent review. |
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| ehle64 |
| Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2006 3:26 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 7149
Location: NYC; US&A
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| I haven't seen Hard Candy, but am a fan of The Kids In The Hall's Brain Candy (even though it's a stupid, bad film). |
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It truly disappoints me when people do something for you via no prompt of your own and then use it as some kind of weapon against you at a later time and place. It is what it is. |
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| Joe Vitus |
| Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2006 3:27 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
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Location: Houston
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| I've never seen Compulsion. |
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| Harry |
| Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2006 3:55 pm |
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Joined: 08 Jan 2006
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Joe Vitus wrote: I've never seen Compulsion.
But now you feel compelled to do so, right?
Last night I felt compelled to rent Wimbeldon when I saw that Kirsten Dunst was in it. It was an etertaining movie in spite of a rather flabby script. With a more compelling storyline it could have been a real winner.
But I was less than enchanted with Ms. Dunst. I don't find her particularly attractive either physically or charismatically. What she has is kind of a mindless vitality. A shallow amiability like a thin-lipped, modestly-breasted Brittany Speers. |
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| Melody |
| Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2006 4:52 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
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Location: TX
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| Harry, don't give up on Kirsten Dunst until you see Dick, where she and an equally wonderful Michelle Williams are teenagers who meet and fall in love with Nixon. It's hilarious and one of my favorites. Cool soundtrack, too! Dan Hedaya plays a mean Nixon. |
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My heart told my head: This time, no. |
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| Joe Vitus |
| Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2006 5:01 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 14498
Location: Houston
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| I think Billy liked that movie, too (or some father here with a daughter; I remember whoever it was saying their daughter even back then recognized Michelle Williams as the better of the two). I need to give it a shot. |
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You've got a great brain. You should keep it in your head.
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| chillywilly |
| Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2006 6:17 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 8251
Location: Salt Lake City
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Harry wrote: Though I admired Sophia Coppola's artistry in that Bill Murray movie (I forget the name)...
Lost In Translation was the movie. I enjoyed it. |
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Chilly
"If you should die before me / Ask if you could bring a friend" |
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| Harry |
| Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2006 6:31 pm |
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Joined: 08 Jan 2006
Posts: 145
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| Thanks Melody, it's now on my list of compulsory DVDs. I shouldn't admit this but in the last few years teenage flicks have become my favorites. And it isn't just delayed pedophelia - I honestly find these movies more imaginative and creative than most "adult" movies. It's like when my grandchildren came for a visit a few years ago and I was forced to watch the kid's channel. It was a revelation! (I still miss Ren and Stumpy. ) |
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| chillywilly |
| Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2006 6:53 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 8251
Location: Salt Lake City
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Harry wrote: (I still miss Ren and Stumpy. )
Ren and Stimpy.... back in 1992, I was turned onto this show by John K and it was so different... and far removed from being P.C. Only the first couple of seasons were worth it, IMO. Later shows (not done by John K) didn't have the snap and spunk needed to carry the show. |
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Chilly
"If you should die before me / Ask if you could bring a friend" |
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