Seeing Max von Sydow in The Seventh Seal a few posts back brought to mind this performance:
This was the only time in my own personal experience that I thought a movie was substantially better than the book on which it was based.
Re: Bullitt, I agree it’s exciting (especially the car chase), but I always had trouble following the story. Many years later, Robert Vaughan was talking about the film and he said the story line had so many logical gaps that it made no sense at all. That made me feel a little better. BTW, the very first time I saw it was at a drive-in theater. The portions of the chase that were shot through the windshields of the Mustang and Charger were especially exciting seen that way. I could swear it was our own Camaro that was bouncing all over San Francisco.
I’m listening to a compilation of the score of Altered States as I type. I am stunned to have just learned it was written by John Corigliano. That film was a psychedelic roller coaster ride I’ve seen many times. I have a fresh appreciation for the score, which was and still is audacious.
Have you read Lem’s novel? The film adaptation was for many in the West the first exposure to Lem’s work because it was suppressed. I still greatly prefer the novel to both film adaptations.
I thoroughly enjoyed this movie when it was released. Yea, some of it is over the top, but if you can suspend your disbelief, it can really suck you in.
I thought the actors all had good chemistry together. I think this might have been William Hurt’s first movie. I thought he was excellent as the scientist who pursued his obsession, no matter the cost. Some of the dialog exchanges struck me as realistic of how scientists interact, especially towards the beginning of the movie.
BTW, the very first time I saw it was at a drive-in theater. The portions of the chase that were shot through the windshields of the Mustang and Charger were especially exciting seen that way. I could swear it was our own Camaro that was bouncing all over San Francisco.
