Lonely are the Brave (Universal Backlot Series)
|
List Price: Our Price: $11.44 You Save: $8.54 (43%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of Lonely are the Brave (Universal Backlot Series)
Movie Review: A Crown Jewel of Cinema
Summary: 5 Stars
Finally available on DVD, this flawless film from the early sixties is a cult film, but also a sorely neglected national masterpiece. One of the best films ever made. It is, in fact, Kirk Douglas' favorite film out of all the great ones he has made. Impeccably directed, written, acted, paced and with a Jerry Goldsmith music score that should be on CD, this film is a moving must-see. Part "Western," part family drama, part prison film, part chase, "Lonely are the Brave" is a low-key epic simply but boldly depicting the age-old conflict of the Individual versus Conformity. They really do not make movies like this anymore. Don't miss it! Try to see it the way all films should be seen - with knowing as little as possible about it...if that is possible to do at all. Even the back of the DVD gives away much of the plotline.
The extras are better than nothing, but could have been better still. It would have been nice to know more about the actual making of the movie - but to see Kirk and son Michael and the grand Gena Rowlands talk of this quiet masterpiece is priceless in itself. The one flaw with this release is that the second featurette is about Goldsmith's great score - so, why not have the score as a separate music track? Alas, hopefully a CD will be forthcoming.
ADDENDUM: I just found out that the score is NOW available on CD through Screen Archives Entertainment! This is the great Goldsmith's best Western score.
Movie Review: the Edward Abbey angle
Summary: 5 Stars
I hadn't paid attention and so was pleasantly surprised when watching the extra afterward in which Kirk mentions wanting to make the movie because he loved the book Brave Cowboy, written by Edward Abbey. If you know and love Edward Abbey, the whole story clicks into his perspective. Even so, the spine of the story is rather clunky and under motivated, with preposterous situations. Abbey was digging deeper into the basic point than anyone else, and focused on that rather than on the overall demands of storytelling. Yet that in itself adds magically to the charm of this movie, which deconstructs the assumptions of modern sensibilities, showing how they don't fit so well with anyone determined to be free. There were other naturalists and environmentalists before Abbey, but none so militant. Lots of funny, brainy, engaging aspects throughout the story.
Kirk Douglas hired Dalton Trumbo to write the screenplay, and insisted that Trumbo be openly credited, which Douglas says broke the blacklist. Kirk was a real humanist, and you can see in this movie, among his favorites, how closely he identifies with the central character. Fine acting in all the supporting roles too, with early performances by a number of later familiar faces.
Movie Review: Lonely are the brave
Summary: 5 Stars
I have little to add about this classic film that has not already been said, but I did want to point out a curiousity of this DVD. There is a background image of some kids playing stick-ball or baseball or something that is just NOT a scene from the film. Where did that come from? It is really not that important, but perhaps illustrates the lack of respect the film had, even with the company that released the DVD.
Thanks to Kirk Douglas and his influence, we finally now have this movie on DVD. I found the video and audio quality excellent. If you love this film, this is the time to buy it, while it is still in print.
As many others have pointed out, this is one great film. There are few, if not NO, weaknesses. Screenplay, acting, cinemetography, music, etc. All are so tightly attuned to the story. It is almost frightening to see just how well a movie can be made.
At the same time as the film's debut on DVD, the music score by Goldsmith has also had a release (on Varese Sarabande CD).
No, this movie would not likely get made today. It is not in-your-face enough. It leaves space for you to think, to fill in the blanks yourself.
Now go and fill in some blanks.
Movie Review: Finally
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been a fan of this film for years and years now, ever since I first saw in on the Western Channel that we had back when Primestar was still around. I looked for it on dvd, but never found it and discovered it was in fact, still unavailable. Flash forward a few years and I'm working at an on the verge of collapsing dvd/video store. They decide, while I'm there, that they're going to throw away ALL of their video tapes. I talk my manager into letting me have them instead. I end up with four thousand video tapes. In this behemoth I find a pretty good quality video tape of Lonely are the Brave and rediscover how much I love it. Flash forward a few more years and I catch a newly remastered version on TCM and I'm pissed about my crappy video tape. I want a dvd now! And now, finally someone was smart enough to put this thing on dvd, cleaned up and in widescreen.
I'm left wanting on the special features, especially since there's no commentary, but I can live with this. The simple fact that I now have this cleaned up version is quite enough to quell my years of frustration at Hollywood for not releasing some of their best films to dvd.
Movie Review: Why they don't make films like this any more
Summary: 5 Stars
Hollywood films are now made for a much younger audience than was the target audience for films from Hollywood's classic age. 15-25 year olds go to far many more movies than older age groups and this started happening before films were predominantly targeted towards youngsters. Young audiences have been trained by MTV and advertising to demand quicker paces, broader humor, simplified stories -- any number of things that separate today's movies from older ones.
In addition, films are marketed heavily towards foreign, non-English speaking audiences. Obviously, such audiences are not going to be seeking low-key character studies with good dialogue. Action, effects and easy-to-understand plot lines are what appeal to mass international audiences.
Lonely Are the Brave is a great film but for these reasons Hollywood films are not made like this anymore. It's not necessarily a reflection on society. Education may be declining and society on the whole may be suffering but the change in Hollywood's offerings is a different issue.
If you want adult films, watch foreign films or Clint Eastwood movies.