The Beguiled
|
List Price: Our Price: $8.03 You Save: $6.91 (46%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $6.05 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Canada
Movie Reviews of The Beguiled
Movie Review: Deeper, Darker American Gothic
Summary: 4 Stars
During the American civil war, wounded Yankee soldier, John McBurney is rescued on the verge of death by a teenage girl from a Confederate boarding school. She manages to get him back to the school, and at first the all-female staff and pupils are scared. As he starts to recover, one by one he seduces the sexually repressed women and the atmosphere becomes filled with jealousy, deceit and brutal revenge.Eccentric, offbeat melodrama combining the conventions of both Western and Grand Guignol chiller, and directed as if it were an art movie, this is one of Eastwood and Siegel's strangest collaborations. Beautifully shot (especially the nightmarishly skewed first person camera perspective of that famous amputation scene, and chiaroscuro lighting effects [such deep, dark shadows]}, carefully paced, this is a haunting, elegant work that seems to have influenced the much later - and inferior - Misery.
No disc extras as such, but excellent production notes, and a crystal-clear transfer with well-preserved colour separation make this an essential DVD purchase.
Now pass the mushrooms...
Movie Review: A woman's wrath IS sharper than a serpent's tooth...
Summary: 4 Stars
Clint Eastwood is Corporal John McBurney, a wounded Union soldier given shelter and medical attention at a girls school during the Civil War. They intend to allow him to heal before turning him over to the authorities. But then he starts to take a liking to the ladies - and they to him. He woos and charms them (independent of the others), partially for obvious reasons and partially to keep peace - otherwise they might turn him in, which would certainly result in his dying in prison. Soon the women compare notes on "their" man, and McBurney soons finds himself in over his head. Gothic, stylish, and unpredictable; with a few twists and turns that may startle a first-time viewer. Geraldine Page (as the headmistress) does an impeccable job and is perfect in her role. Eastwood gives an excellent performance, stepping out of his usual screen persona. A hidden Eastwood classic that needs a second look.Movie Review: Wickedly Funny
Summary: 4 Stars
I was never really a fan of Clint Eastwood's films but I really liked this one.Its athmospheric and creepy (including that song!) with great performances by all.There are lot's of funny scenes (Clint expalining his ethics and "respect for land"),That little girl saying "why dont we just hang him?",and the girls stitching something at the end of the movie as if theyre in a knitting class.
You wouldnt really root for anybody in this movie.This movie will make you chuckle,this movie will shock you even by today's standard.A little known movie yet highly recommended.Specially if you want something different.
Movie Review: Southern Gothic one of the Best of Eastwood-Siegel Films
Summary: 4 Stars
This superior southern gothic is one of the best of the Eastwood-Siegel collaborations, ranking just short of Dirty Harry and just above Coogan's Bluff and Eascape from Alcatraz as the most memorable of that duo's contributions to pop culture. The atomosphere is suitably weird and bizarre to create a shroud like atmosphere that ultimately envelops one of Eastwood's amoral protagonists. The great Geraldine Paige heads the supporting cast, which also features the haunting Elizabeth Hartman (who would later die tragically, by her own hand) and a scrumptious piece of crumb cake, Jo Ann Harris.
Four stars!
Movie Review: Fascinating and usualy film
Summary: 4 Stars
A complete bomb at the time of its release because audiences went expecting a typical Clint Eastwood actioner and instead got this eeire drama about the sexual mind games between a wounded Union Soldier and the "inmates" of an all-girls Southern school. Nearly thirty years later, we can appreciate the film's artistic qualities, the almost surreal direction, and the uniformly wonderful acting. And we can certainly admire Eastwood and legendary director Don Siegel for striking out in a new direction with high quality material.