On the Beach
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Movie Reviews of On the Beach
Movie Review: Bryan Brown?!?!? Oh, please . . .!!!
Summary: 3 Stars
Hmmm, a doomsday story, Armand Assante and co-starring . . . Bryan Brown?!?!? After watching this movie, and considering it OK watching fare, I found out there was an older version made back in the 1959. Now, I'm curious because my guess is the original version was probably even better? In this version we get some pretty decent acting except for two things that could have been improved.
1. Bryan Brown. This guy always plays the same character in every role he portrays. Brash, grating on the nerves, pompous "bloak". It really is hard to watch a movie with Brown because you think he's a character from one of his other B-movies. Try and treat his acting as a minor nuisance and you might be able to enjoy the rest of the film.
2. Assante's occasional slips into Al Pacino deliveries. On the whole, Armand does a fine job of acting the duty-bound submarine commander and also the troubled soul trying to keep himself together after personal loss. Intermittently he also seems to be doing an accent which I don't recall are natural to Assante's normal speaking voice. It's almost like the Aussies told him to "act American". I'm surprised he isn't wearing cowboy boots and the hat to go with it! There are even times when Armand slips into short Al Pacino-like monologues. Very strange because when he isn't so filled with convictions his performance is pretty darn good.
The plot is interesting and the ironic twist in the middle of the picture is a jewel. Rachel Ward's portrayal of, Moira Davidson, is compelling to watch along with the supporting casts' performances. On the whole the movie is gloomy, and the storyline comes a bit too close to reality at times. It sends a thought-provoking shiver up one's spine. BRAVO for that in any movie.
Pictures like these do have their silver lining of making the viewer give thanks for what they have and who they hold dear. I'd watch it again.
Movie Review: Has its strengths and weaknesses.
Summary: 3 Stars
Comparing it with the theatrical movie with Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Fred Astaire etc, it has its strengths - one being Australian actors in the Australian roles, and who perform well. Assante is very good in the Peck role while Bryan Brown is a little 'over-cooked' in the Astaire role, but Rachel Ward (Mrs Brown) is excellent. Impact of story is powerful, and it has a slightly more 'satisfying' last scene than the 1959 movie. As a mini-series, twice as long as the original which gives more time for story development, although it is rather slow and overly-'wordy' in places. Overall a 'solid' product.Movie Review: Buy the original 1959 film instead...
Summary: 3 Stars
Yes, buy the original 1959 film instead. The cast (Gregory Peck, Fred Astaire, Ava Gardner, and Anthony Perkins) is FAR better than the retreads in the new version. Direction by Stanley Kramer and the beautiful score by Herman Gold also make the original film by far the best choice. For those reviewers upset that the film does not have a happy ending, please consider renting Cinderella from Disney Studios. The original 1959 film was also a masterpiece in that it was a film with an anti-war theme from the 1950's. Quick, how many other anti-war films from the 1950's can you name?Movie Review: Hit and miss
Summary: 3 Stars
I saw the original screening of this in Australia a fair while ago now and loved it so i decided to purchase it. I was disapointed as the ending had been changed from the tv mini series into an "USA saves the day" ending. Not the sad intimate ending i expected.Movie Review: Sci-Fi channel meets Lifetime channel
Summary: 3 Stars
Sci-Fi channel meets Lifetime channel, with a higher percentage on the Lifetime aspects. Ultra depressing. Digital Visual effects noticeable but tolerable. You got to love and end of the world movie with a Ferrari in it.