Big Wednesday
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Movie Reviews of Big Wednesday
Movie Review: A "bombed" masterpiece
Summary: 5 Stars
When I first saw this film on release in 1978, many of the critics had panned it with several observing that it was only interesting when in the water, given surfing is its main excitement and the movie subsequently bombed. Looked at again 30 years later (I have in fact seen it several times in between given the cult status it enjoys in UK fringe cinemas), the film's time horizon of mid 1960s to early 1970s following a surfing mad group growing up is nowhere as bad as those critics may have indicated.
Named after the fact that most big surfing swells over the years have occurred on Wednesday, the film by using the surfing culture provides an excellent snapshot of a group of Californian teenagers maturing across the late 1960s and facing up to their changing responsibilities, with its keen observations along the way on the tension with the later hippy movement and the indirect impact of the Vietnam War and its draft on people's lives.
None of the three lead actors (two actual surfers and Gary Busey as the "Masochist" in gonzo mode) were going to be Oscar contenders based on this outing but what makes the performances succeed is the quality of the ensemble playing. The director co-written script given John Milius's other writing credits is a bit clunky in parts (especially the lead personal relationships and the father figure of "Bear"), but since Milius was a surfer from a very young age, he admits in the recent interview included in this Anniversary DVD that it is a very personal movie and an amalgam of many different characters he knew from those days.
Sure the film's surfing scenes still look fantastic 30 years on, especially in widescreen format. The accompanying short Milius interview and his Director commentary (which because of its conversational style works well in conveying his enthusiasm for the subject as well as including lots of personal observations and stories) also makes you realise the difficulties and dangers that were faced in the location shooting of such footage.
Yes, one suspects as has already been seen over the last 30 years that this little gem while bombing on initial release will outlast many other over hyped movies of the same period. This is not just just because of its surfing community following but because it is a lot closer to depicting how it actually was for many in those times.
Movie Review: Wistful Surf Epic
Summary: 5 Stars
Anybody venturing into this film thinking that this is primarily a surf film will be in for a rude awakening. Surfing is central to the film, yes, but it is the connecting thread of the diverse lives of the film's main characters. The film spans the period of 1962 to 1974 and catalogues the internal changes of Matt(Jan-Michael Vincent), Jack(William Katt), and Leroy(Gary Busey)as the well as the social changes that occurred during that time. One of the more memorable sequences in the film is one where the buddies go to the military induction center and try any number of schemes to avoid being drafted. These characters are real human beings with the foibles associated with all of us. Any sentiment this film engenders is earned. This is a surprisingly poignant film coming from a director, John Milius, normally not associated with sentimentality. The film also delivers the goods as far as the surfing sequences. The film's Great Swell of 1974 sequence is breathtaking. I remember when this film came out in 1978 it got generally good reviews but spotty box office and release. It did not even have a theatrical run in Philly. Thank God for DVD where treasures like this can be rediscovered. This is an excellent film to watch at this midpoint of Summer.Movie Review: A true cult classic for surfers
Summary: 5 Stars
At the risk of sounding like a total pot-smoking burn out type who sits around all summer and eats cheetos and plays Nintendo I have to start out this review with a very loud and resounding "This movie rules!". Anyway if you are a surfer and are interested in a bit of history on a fictional level about some of the pioneers of the sport then this is the movie to see. Because this movie is unlike any of the other surf movies out there I can't really compare it to them in terms of whether or not it was better than them or not. It's in a class all it's own. From the first rate story-line to the spectacular big wave scenes at the end (spectacular for it's day that is), this movie holds much nostalgia from the 60's surf era. If you wanna go back in time a few decades for a couple of hours and get caught up in what it was like to be part of the surf scene "back in the day" then this is the movie to see. From the old wine cooler beach parties late into the night to the trips down the California coast to Tijuana searching for the right surf conditions this movie captures it all and freezes it in a time capsule in the from of a two hour cinematic documentry of sorts. Two thumbs up and then some is all I can say to end this review.Movie Review: Stuffit, LIFEGUAAAAARD!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a classic. I think you really need to surf in order to really relate to it though. I could see how this movie could come off cheesy (and I admit there is some velveeta going on in this one), but as a whole, it gives you that whole "aloha" vibe crossed with the craziness of rambunctious youth. It's hard not to draw parallels between growing up on the beach, and watching this movie. The innocence of youth filling their idle time with waves, babes, and beers. Through the eventual growing pains of being forced to "grow up", to the eventual realization that life is a combination of fun and tragedy.
It's easy to pine for the carefree days of our youth. It's pathetic to be "stuck" in that moment. Like The Bear says: "growing up's tough ain't it kid?" Like you will see with this movie. Everyone has to discover at their own pace that life is constantly moving forward. Youth is part of a series of moments we go through that can be packed away and taken out to enjoy every now and then. But it is a phase. Not Life.
Movie Review: One of my Top 10 movies of all time
Summary: 5 Stars
To be fair, in 1962, I was a 7 year old grom riding my skimboard on the Linda Mar California beach while my cousins longboarded. No wetsuits then-pre Jack O'Neill. Milius did an excellent job capturing that era. Sam Melton aka The Bear reminded me of my Uncle Jack Blair. Gruff, fair and experienced in all things. Every town had a trio of surfers like Leroy, Jack and Matt in those days. Probably still true but I'm the old guy on a longboard now so I wouldn't know any personally. Any surfer over 45 can relate to this movie and if anybody younger than that wants to relate to older surfers like their Dads or Uncles, they should watch this movie. My only beef was that there were no Hawaiians in the movie, only haoles. There were Hawaiians surfing in SoCal in those days, passing on the Aloha. But, that's a minor thing. Funny thing, I still dress the same, even at work as I did in those days-jeans, flip flops, tee-shirt or an aloha shirt. I guess I'm still in a Big Wednesday time warp. I hope I never leave.