This movie is interesting only for film nerds, I think. On paper, it looks great: you have one of the most influential directors of his time with Elia Kazan. It stars a young Robert De Niro who had a string of successful and critical acclaimed movies (Mean Streets, Godfather II, Taxi Driver, all made between 1973 and 1976)
But not just De Niro was a big name; Robert Mitchum, Dana Andrews, Donald Pleasence, Tony Curtis, Anjelica Huston. And of course, Jack Nicholson won the Oscar a year before; in 1976 with "One flew over the cuckoo's nest" What could go wrong?
Almost everything, as it turns out.
The "story" sounds intriguing about a young movie producer Monroe Stahr (De Niro), working successfully in Hollywood in the 1930s. You do get a glimpse of how much power the studio bosses had in that time, just before significant changes happened with unions and writer guilds.
The film could go in so many directions: showing the shadow side of Tinseltown, maybe even a satire. Instead, what we've got is a dry, empty, uninteresting film that feels like an eternity.
Especially the romantic scenes involving Monroe Stahr and Katleen Moore are among the dullest performances I have seen for a long time. Especially actress Ingrid Boulting who plays Kathleen Moore had me almost in a coma. Boulting, a model turned actress, has nothing to add except a pretty face. It's not entirely her fault; it's also a very weak screenplay with dialogue that made me cringe. No idea what Kazan was thinking.
Only one highlight this film has to offer: Jack Nicholson's character Brimmer was quite good, but he came too late into the film. Still, nice to see De Niro and Nicholson in a few scenes together.
Finally, what I can say is that this movie is a trap. It looks good with all the talent who is involved in this film, but there is nothing inside, only for hardcore fans of Kazan or a particular actor.
It should be shown in film school as an example that great actors never automatically make a great film.
Almost everything, as it turns out.
The "story" sounds intriguing about a young movie producer Monroe Stahr (De Niro), working successfully in Hollywood in the 1930s. You do get a glimpse of how much power the studio bosses had in that time, just before significant changes happened with unions and writer guilds.
The film could go in so many directions: showing the shadow side of Tinseltown, maybe even a satire. Instead, what we've got is a dry, empty, uninteresting film that feels like an eternity.
Especially the romantic scenes involving Monroe Stahr and Katleen Moore are among the dullest performances I have seen for a long time. Especially actress Ingrid Boulting who plays Kathleen Moore had me almost in a coma. Boulting, a model turned actress, has nothing to add except a pretty face. It's not entirely her fault; it's also a very weak screenplay with dialogue that made me cringe. No idea what Kazan was thinking.
Only one highlight this film has to offer: Jack Nicholson's character Brimmer was quite good, but he came too late into the film. Still, nice to see De Niro and Nicholson in a few scenes together.
Finally, what I can say is that this movie is a trap. It looks good with all the talent who is involved in this film, but there is nothing inside, only for hardcore fans of Kazan or a particular actor.
It should be shown in film school as an example that great actors never automatically make a great film.