7/10
Graceful Film Loses Grace At The End.
24 May 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Another rarity from the library,that again,I've never heard of. So naturally I just had to see it. I'll warn those who haven't seen it,to not be taken in too much by the beautiful scenery shown at the beginning. Which makes it seem like this will be a real '70s touching love story with a happy ending.

Now,Kris Kristofferson will more than likely never get a lifetime achievement award from the Academy,or for that matter even a best supporting Oscar. Here in "The Sailor.." (which should have been enough of a title)he's actually effective.

He's not loud and abrasive here,like he was in "A Star Is Born" or "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore". His performance,while not overly spectacular is actually very evenly paced and quite thoughtful and even poetic.

I've never heard of the other players in the film but Kris's love interest is quite a bold actress for the scenes of nudity she's given. As for her love scenes with Kristofferson,if the two characters weren't portraying being in love,I'd think less of them being pictured here. Personally,I find them in this context to be quite romantic.

The boy peeping in on his mother and then the couple,is just a young boy satisfying his newborn curiosity. I'm certain the producers weren't going for an "Edipous and his mother" plot. Speaking of the boy,I wondered,"how can he let himself be friends with such a rotten kid"?

How also could he and the others let themselves be bossed around,hit and abused by this kid,who needs at least 20 years of psycho-therapy? It's almost impossible to imagine what could screw a young kid like that up so badly that he hates basically everything and is practically a pint-sized Hitler?

I have to say I was truly disappointed that the boy and his buddies didn't come to their senses and ditch him or take him on all at once or one at a time! Instead they blindly follow his lead to where they end up offing Kristofferson. What an incredible downer! I'm glad they didn't show a scene with the mother realizing her chance at new happiness had been taken away,that would have been too much to take.

Seven stars for the love story,the innocence of the boy before he goes bad,the scenery and even Kristofferson's acting. 3 off for the morbidness that I feel had no place alongside the romantic storyline. Even if it was taken from the book. (END)
6 out of 9 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

Recently Viewed