One-Eyed Jacks
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Movie Reviews of One-Eyed Jacks
Movie Review: A Western with Counter-culture Appeal!
Summary: 5 Stars
In an era during which the western movie was simply tuckered-out - tired of endless TV series' that chanted the same worn diatribe - and audiences searched for and demanded something different - along came "One-Eyed Jacks"...featuring one listless, troubled, mumbling loner - fretting, ruminating, and deliberating...see, you actually can describe him with something other than "brooding"! No one besides Marlon Brando, as Rio, could have portrayed this man of few words - with tender, endearing lines, like - "You get up - you big tub o'guts!", "Get up, you scum-sucking pig!", and - "You gob of spit!" Along with an equally colorful actor - Karl Malden, as the dispicable "Dad" Longworth, there is a relationship between these two men seared in the fires of deep, infesting hatred and forged in revenge.
In a friendship marred by bitter betrayal and hyprocrisy, two former tequila-saturated, bank-robbing buddies finally separate when surrounded by Mexican troops. But, when his mentor, Longworth, fails to come back to rescue him - having been dispatched to locate horses for their getaway and leaves him for capture and a long prison term, Rio just wants to settle the score. He soon learns that his former buddy is now Sheriff "Dad" Longworth in Monterey, California - which just happens to be the location of the next bank that Rio and his new compadres are about to rob - the stage for sweet revenge.
With the fragile and lovely Pina Pellicer as Rio's love interest, Louisa, the solid Katy Jurado as her mother, Mrs. Longworth, and great character actors like Ben Johnson, Sam Gilman, and Larry Duran as Rio's new bank-robbing friends - along with Slim Pickens as the reprehensible Deputy Lon Dedrick and including notable appearances by Elisha Cook, Jr., Ray Teal, and the amazing Timothy Carey - the supporting stock in this picture elevates it to cult classic status. Now, add the haunting and memorable score by Hugo Friedhofer - and you have a truly wonderful motion picture that deserves the careful and diligent restorative techniques of a powerhouse like - say Criterion - to remaster it completely.
Filmed chiefly against the backdrop of Monterey, California with its rockbound shores and crashing sea rollers - it was a refreshing change to see a location other than some wind-swept, border town surrounded by paper-mache saguaro cacti. What makes this film different is the carefully designed, chess-like series of ploys as Rio and "Dad" Longworth position themselves for the inevitable showdown. SPOILER ALERT: And, when Longworth finally gets his, it is satisfying to say the least, but certainly short of the real "Sonny Corleone"/"Clyde Barrow"-style, bullet-riddled dessert that he really deserves - even if he is carrying a nine-shooter revolver!
Movie Review: Truth and Lies
Summary: 5 Stars
Malden seems to start true, but then turns out to be living a lie. He gets his come-uppance in the end. Marlon tells one lie after another, but slowly appears to be reaching down to the deeper truth. He gets away with it in the end. The basic theme of this film seems to be the clash of the misfit with society --- perhaps this is the underlying theme of all films, since they are told from the point of view of the individual; and society is composed of nothing but a bunch of conformist misfits. If you want to succeed in society, you have to fake it --- cover up your miss-spent youth, or put it behind you, don a front of respectability, hide your flaws. This is the way society operates, and two-faced old Dad has it figured out. Only show the acceptable side of your face, and you've got it made. One of the best things about this movie is that Brando managed to kick Kubrick the cube off the set. Many of Kubrick's films show the individual being flattened by society's values: and the individual is often shown as being demented or vicious beyond redemption in the first place. Instead of the heavy-handed Kubrick treatment, Brando gives us a sensitive, nuanced, moody, brooding, highly romantic, subtle and poetic story which perfectly fits the locale and the Mexican Western genre. Brando is great, as nearly always in his earlier work: 80% languor and 20% explosion. Malden, as always, is nothing less than 110% professional. To be beautiful, however, you have to suffer; and, boy, does Brando suffer. You have to ask yourself if he finished up working for the government in Oregon, leaving nothing but a little memento South of the Border. With five hours and a million feet of film in the can, you also have to ask yourself about possible alternative endings. For instance, did Malden get in a deadly shot from behind the fountain? Or did he shoot the girl in the back, and kill the baby, before the couple made their getaway? That would have been just too audience unfriendly in 1961.
I've now read pretty well most of the internet reviews of this movie, and the only one which halfway recognizes its power is the London Time Out piece by TM. Check it out, and you begin to get some idea of why OEJ is a great work. Time will tell. Its reputation can only grow.
Movie Review: This is a five and I'll prove it!
Summary: 5 Stars
Folks, the average review for this movie is 3 of 5, and that is ridiculous. This is a western Classic to be sure for the following reasons. The outstanding performances turned in by two Hollywood legends as well as a tremendous supporting cast. Also, this DVD has a solid story that acts as a foundation that carries the movie throughout. The sub-plots include revenge, forbidden love, betrayal, and greed. All of this and we haven't even discussed that this movie has some of the greatest outdoor scenes ever put on film. This is not your typical western with the typical 50's sterotypes. This story introduces us to the anti-hero before that term became vougue some years later. This is a must see DVD for anyone who loves westerns.Movie Review: Very Good DVD
Summary: 5 Stars
Too many customers have complained about the video quality of this movie. It is not top quality, but that is because it has not been digitally remastered. So this is the best that can be purchased. And in truth, it is not bad. It is very "watchable". I enjoyed it without any complaints. To top it off, this is one of the best westerns ever made. Most westerns are corny and trite; not this one.Movie Review: Study in Betrayal and Revenge
Summary: 5 Stars
This moody Western is a film about betrayal and revenge directed by Marlon Brando. Brando's focus here is on characters. The way they walk, talk, eat, drink, dress, kill and die is poetic, enigmatic and disturbing under Brando's direction. This film is filled with overly beautiful photography and highly detailed sets. A strange and uneasy film it is remains offbeat yet very captivating.