Hud
|
Our Price: $8.99 Availability: Usually ships in 6 to 9 days Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of Hud
Movie Review: The Eyes Of Texas Are Upon You
Summary: 5 Stars
The last time I have had a chance to mention the work of Larry McMurtry, whose novel this movie is adapted from, was a recent review of his The Last Picture Show trilogy (a must read, by the way) concerning the coming of age, mid-life crises and struggles with mortality of a cohort of small town Texas characters, especially one Duane Moore. As usual when I get `high' on an author I like to run through most of his or her work to see where he or she is going with it. Thus, this review of a lesser work turned into an exceptional film is something of an introduction to themes that McMurtry likes to give a work out in his literary efforts. Apparently, when it comes to bring to life the Texas of the 1950's and 1960's either cinematically or in book form your first (and maybe last stop, although I would give Horton Foote some play) is at Mr. McMurtry's doorstep.
Okay, so what is the big deal? Take one young, world weary, cynical handsome and well-built ne'r-do-well 1950's cowboy Paul Newman, complete with Cadillac and cowboy hat (and an eye for the ladies, needless to say). Take one old-time rancher father of said Hud, Melvyn Douglas giving the performance of his life as a man out of step with the times as oil-rich Texas is passing him by. Take one sultry (yes, sultry in a country sort of way) substitute mother as the household cook and drudge. Add, for generational purposes, a young teenage grandson Brandon De Wilde the prototype for later characters that we shall see again in other Texas scenarios by McMurtry. Put them all together with all kinds of family, personal and social tensions and a ranch crisis brought on by an epidemic of cattle hoof and mouth disease. Film it in black and white (a natural medium for 1950's- 1960's modern cowboy movies-think the Misfits) and place it in small town Texas with all its pride, prejudices and customs. Then take a couple of hours to see how a well-written novel and a well-thought out film can mesh as one. This is the Texas of Larry's dreams and ours. Kudos.
Movie Review: Masterpiece! My favorite Paul Newman flick.
Summary: 5 Stars
Not unlike many of my generation, I grew up thinking nothing could be better than "Cool Hand Luke" as far as Paul Newman movies go. I was wrong. With no disrespect to the fabulous "Luke," Hud in all it's appropriate black and white glory surpasses the superb "Luke" in my book. Masterfully filmed and written, the direction and editing guide "Hud" at a perfect pace, contrasting between blatant and subtlety in revealing the defining attributes of the cast, foreshadowing the inevitable clashes to come between Melvyn Douglas' Homer Bannon character, his lone remaining son Hud (Newman), Lon, his grandson of his deceased other son, and Alma (Patricia Neal). The movie reveals the differences between its characters with a fine mix of dialogue and attitude that lesser movies require much more screen time to divulge. And what at the very beginning may seem puzzling as to why the charismatic Hud would be so loathed by his father while admired by so many others, becomes very understanding as the film unfolds. With fabulously written dialogue exchanges between the main characters, and tell tale scenes, despite the fact that there'll always be ladies who'd still adore a Hud type character (as well as men), it becomes apparent why the opposite too is easy to understand. Everyone knows a Hud. Everyone knows a person who they can say "So in so" is only looking out for "So in so." It's easy to see why the cinematography won an Oscar, as well as Douglas and Neal. This movie would not have had the same feel if filmed in color. This movie is a study in character, or lack thereof. A movie that makes one question those they admire and why, as well as one's own motives in their day to day actions. "Cool Hand Luke" left an impressionable mark on me in making me feel strongly for Newmans character. "Hud" did that too in a completely different way. The mark of great writing, directing and acting. One of my all time favorite films, and one of the first DVDs I bought. And it's a scrumptous black and white transfer on DVD.Movie Review: The Quiet Desperation of Small Cattle Town Life
Summary: 5 Stars
Hud Bannon (Paul Newman) lives and works on his father's (Melvyn Douglas) ranch with his impressionable nephew (Brandon de Wilde). The three men are taken care of by the shopworn but still sexy Alma (Patricia Neal)
Hud's favorite past time \is having affairs with married women. He has no morals and proves it constantly. Hud's father on the other hand has too many morals. This comes to point when they find a dead cow. Hud wants to let the buzzards have it but his father wants to call the authorities in to determine what killed the cow.
What they don't suspect is that it could be foot and mouth. This puts their work lives in limbo. This intensifies their divergent personal lives. The unforeseen consequence is Hud turning his interest to Alma. Alma is flattered by his attention but when he tries to force himself on her during a drunken rage, this starts the end to spiral forward.
This was the first movie based on a Larry McMurtry book. As with the latter adaptation of his works (The Last Picture Show, Lonesome Dove and most recently Brokeback Mountain), this is a story about people who are coping with the desperation of isolation in the West.
This was also an early film by Martin Ritt. Ritt was always interested in complex family relationships in desperate times. He would follow this film ten years later with the brilliant Sounder, which is about a southern black family trying to cope with 60's south and fifteen years later with equally brilliant Norma Rae, which is about a family being torn apart by the oppressive conditions of a mill town.
This film proved Paul Newman's depth and potential as an actor. Patricia Neal won the Oscar for her textured performance as did Melvyn Douglas.
DVD EXTRAS: None
Movie Review: Looking for Meaning in a World gone Wrong
Summary: 5 Stars
What hits you first in this film? For me it was the images. There are black-and-white images of rural Texas and cars. We are definitely in a Western setting but it is also definitely contemporary. One way of life is transitioning into a new one. The visual imagery is vividly captured by cinematographer James Wong Howe's always intuitive and brilliant work. One way of life, that of living a moral lifestyle through hard physical work of the land, gives way to cynical, lethargic and calculating modernism. The film focuses on the Bannon family. There is Melvyn Douglas who plays Homer Bannon, the highly moral patriarch who never has really lived life but instead works it. Paul Newman is HUD, Hud Bannon, Homer's son. Hud stands for everything counter to his father. Hud lives a questionably moral or just an outright immoral (as seen by his father) lifestyle that is certainly worldly by anyone's standards yet he will always come back to his father's call no matter how much of a cad Newman's character appears to be. Brandon de Wilde is Lon Bannon, Hud's impressionable nephew and it is through his perspective we see things. Patricia Neal is the housekeeper Alma whose worldly ambitions come into play with her banter with Hud and interestingly she never gives in to Paul Newman's constant allusive advances. The clash of cultural and moral ideology, of the old ways vs. the new, comes over the Bannon's herd of cattle almost assuredly infected with hoof-and-mouth disease. Douglas wants the cattle slaughtered while Newman wants to sell them off and not take the monetary loss. This is one of director Martin Ritt's best films.
Movie Review: Great acting and a fascinating setting make this a special movie!
Summary: 5 Stars
This review is for the 2003 widescreen DVD release by Paramount.
I've always been intrigued with movies about life in rural Texas. The movie Hud features Paul Newman as Hud Bannon, a morally-bankrupt, hell-raising cowboy who lives with his father Homer (played by Melvyn Douglas) and Hud's nephew Lonnie on a large ranch in West Texas. In addition, Patricia Neal plays the role of their cook and cleaning lady. The storyline revolves around the wild life of Hud and how his lack of moral principals and irresponsible living soon puts a major strain on the entire household. The plot is solidly melodramatic and the ending is somewhat subdued, but the acting is what makes movie extra special, especially the Oscar-winning performance by Melvyn Douglas. The other thing that makes this movie so enjoyable are some great scenes shot in and around the nearby small rural Texas town. The sing-along inside the movie theater is priceless. All in all, Hud is a very well done movie, and if you like it, I'd also recommend viewing two similar, and in my opinion better movies, "Giant" and "The Last Picture Show".
The DVD is in widescreen black and white. The picture quality is near pristine with an occasional tiny dot of film deterioration showing up here and there during the movie, but nothing at all bothersome. The audio and soundtrack are outstanding. There are no bonus features on the DVD which is disappointing for a movie of this caliber.
Movie: A-
DVD Quality: A-