Fahrenheit 451
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Movie Reviews of Fahrenheit 451
Movie Review: A Powerful, Thought-Provoking Film
Summary: 5 Stars
Francois Truffaut's English language debut "Fahrenheit 451" is based on the world famous science-fiction novel by Ray Bradbury and stars Oskar Werner and Julie Christie. The movie is about a world in which books are banned and firemen don't put fires out, but instead burn books. Werner plays Montag, one such fireman who becomes involved with a schoolteacher named Clarisse (Christie), who dares to read. Meanwhile, Montag's wife Linda (also Christie) becomes more and more worried about her husbands reading habits. That's a quick summarization of the film. The movie came out in 1968, but is still as relevant, powerful, and fresh as it was back then. Nothing in the film seems to have aged...The term "science-fiction" can turn people off, but in this film that term hardly applies. Truffaut was already world-famous director, who has made French hits like The 400 Blows and Jules & Jim (which starred Werner). Truffaut never mastered the English language, which makes this even more impressive. I can't imagine how difficult it would be to direct a film in a language you hardly understand...Let alone a good film. The casting of Julie Christie in a dual role could have been a dire mistake, but manages to work perfectly. When the two characters are on-screen, I hardly noticed (or cared) that they were the same person. Werner adds a lot of depth to his performance as Montag (a character name that you're not likely to forget), although I'm not sure if he ever did another film in English. The films cinematography is by Nicolas Roeg, who would later direct Walkabout, The Man Who Fell to Earth, and Don't Look Now (also starring Christie) and the film has the mark of a genius. The cinematography here is excellent. I've never read the book, but the movie is extraordinarily powerful. It's a film that everyone should see, and while you're at it...See some other Truffaut films too.
GRADE: A-
Movie Review: A Neglected Classic
Summary: 5 Stars
This film has failed to attract the attention and appreciation which I think it deserves. Directed by Francois Truffaut and based on Ray Bradbury's novel, it co-stars Oskar Werner (Guy Montag) and Julie Christie in two roles (Linda and Clarisse). The cinematography provided by Nicolas Roeg is superb. The title specifies the temperature at which paper will burn in a totalitarian society in which books are systematically incinerated by "firemen" whose single purpose is to eliminate anything which encourages and nourishes freedom of thought. Montag is one of them, a Fire Captain. Over time, his loyalties become divided between a love of literature and an obligation to destroy it. Hence the dual role for Christie: Clarisse McClelland is a neighbor and book lover to whom Montag is attracted (in several different ways) whereas Linda is committed to feeding the bonfires with as many books as can be located. Why do books pose such a serious threat? In the novel, Fire Captain Beatty explains it this way. "Give the people contests they win by remembering the words to more popular songs.... Don't give them slippery stuff like philosophy or sociology to tie things up with. That way lies melancholy." In other words, entertain people with mindless television programming, thereby to isolate them from any ideas which could raise doubts about the oppressive system. The quality of acting is consistently outstanding throughout the cast. The film is generally faithful to Bradbury's novel, taking certain liberties here and there but preserving the atmospherics of menace, fear, and (worst of all) submission. The heroes and heroines are those who meet in secret, sharing passages which they have memorized from great books. So long as that process continues, "dangerous ideas" will be kept alive.
Movie Review: Strange, but true
Summary: 5 Stars
This film had a powerful effect on me. 95% of the people I know don't read books. I met a millionaire not long ago, who boasted to me that he had never read a book in his life. Lady Di was reported never to have read anything --- except perhaps fashion mags. My children hardly read, and their husbands and wives certainly don't. My ex-wife never read anything. Her father thought Ulysses was a dirty book. I stopped watching television in 1980, and I own 10,000 books --- but not Fahrenheit 451, which I'd read about 45 years ago. This was long enough for me not to compare the film with Bradbury's text, but the message came through the movie medium loud and clear, and with a very solid punch to the plexus. The manner in which it is written, played and directed, added to its impact. This world of sleep-walkers perfectly matched what is already all around us. The style was strange, but gradually you realise that this strangeness is actually what is now completely normal. People live and work like automated morons. They can't think for themselves, and their critical faculties are almost totally atrophied. They can't conduct a stimulating conversation of any kind: in fact, present them with an idea, or attempt to initiate a discussion, and they'll often become angry. Some of the several low end reviews on this site illustrate precisely what the film depicts. Ludicrous suggestions: remake it with mad Mel Gibson. Have infantile Spielberg direct it. Bulk it out with computerised SFX. These ghastly proposals precisely reflect the mentality of the sub-humans which the film targets, and many of them seem unable to understand their own language, let alone write it, or spell it. This is a memorable film, for those whose memories still function. Unlike the Captain of the firemen.Movie Review: A temperature when paper burn...
Summary: 5 Stars
Fahrenheit 451 is based on Ray Bradbury's novel with the same name, which sends a chilling message to the audience. Most civilizations have fallen and have often been followed by a dark age. This story takes place sometime in the future when one civilization is in the middle of its dark age and where the written word is banned in all forms. These laws are being carried out by the fire department that has a reversed role in society compared to our present time fire departments. Its main function is to find and burn books at all costs. Meanwhile, people are being kept happy through pills and interactive TV among other things. On one occasion, a neighbor asks the main character, Montag (Oscar Werner), if he has ever read any of the books before he burned them. This question plants a seed of curiosity within Montag and he is about to break the law through reading. This then leads to the rebirth of Montag. Fahrenheit 451 is a superb story that offers many excerpts from written pieces delicately handled in the film, which enhances the atmosphere of the story. Moreover, there are several lessons to be learned from the film. These lessons come from dialogue, cinematography, directing, and the mise-en-scene, which leaves the audience with a terrific science fiction experience.Movie Review: This film is a real scorcher
Summary: 5 Stars
This was such a great movie. Generally, I'm not a huge fan of older films, but this film oozed 60's cool with the elevated train (I loved the way passengers exited it!), funky interior decorations, music and clothing styles.
But that is only part of it. I really enjoyed the performance of Oskar Werner, I had never seen his work before. He brought a strong sense of bewilderment to his role. He effectively conveyed the sense that he knows there is something wrong with society, but is unsure about how to deal with it, having followed and upheld the rules all his life, and especially since everyone around him is so oblivious, namely his wife.
My only problem was the ending. I felt the book people were a little strange. I really don't see how the little society they built up was some kind of utopia. It seemed more like a mental institution to me. If I had to choose between living with the book people and living with no books but lots of TV, I would probably choose the latter. I haven't read the book though, does anyone know if the book people are in the book, or is that the creation of Truffaut?
Anyway, please see this film! You will love it. Especially if you are the literary type.