Caddickisms

Silverado is one of my favorite westerns. It’s fun, exciting, has a good story, and features at least seven of my favorite big name actors (Kevin Kline, Scott Glenn, Danny Glover, Kevin Costner, Brian Dennehy, John Cleese, and Jeff Goldblum). The bad guys are bad, and the good guys are good—even the ones who used to be bad guys. I even like the music.

Kevin Costner plays one of the most fun, energetic roles I’ve seen him in, and he does a great job. Some say he steals the show in this movie, and I can see that, but my favorite characters in this one are Mal (Glover) and Paden (Kline). They seem to be the most sympathetic characters, plus they get a good share of the memorable lines. Here’s a sample:

Paden: Hangin’ around with you is no picnic.

Mal: If I find any cattle on our land, I’m gonna start carvin’ them into steaks. And believe me, that’s one thing I know about.

Paden: What is it you want from me?
Cobb: Nothin’. Do nothin’. Don’t get between us.
Paden: I’m a great believer in doin’ nothin’.
Cobb: We understand each other then?
Paden: Don’t worry about me. If you’re taking on Emmett, the LAST place I want to be is between you.

And my favorite line from the movie:

Mal: Now, I don’t wanna kill you, and you don’t wanna be dead.

There’s nothing particularly mind-blowing about the film, but it’s very well acted, very well directed (by Lawrence Kasdan), has a good script, and as I said, is just plain fun to watch.

Even if you don’t like westerns in general, I think this movie will appeal to everyone. I give it four out of five stars.

Bonus points if you can guess my second favorite line (Hint: it’s not above, and it’s delivered as a throw-away)

Technorati Tags: Silverado, movie, review, western, Kevin Kline, Scott Glenn, Danny Glover, Kevin Costner, Brian Dennehy, John Cleese, Jeff Goldblum, Lawrence Kasdan

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My friend and I first saw this movie in the mid-eighties on the recommendation of a video store clerk. That was probably the best tip we ever got from a video store clerk (and we got a lot of them… we had a lot of free time on our hands).

Now, about 20 years later, much of the detail of the movie had faded from memory. I couldn’t remember more than a couple of scenes, let alone how it ended. All I really knew was that I loved it and that I had witnessed pure talent. What stuck with me most from that first viewing were three things: the hedge maze from the beginning (I love those things), the excellent writing, and the superb acting.

Sleuth began its life as an extremely successful two-man play, and the movie seems to be staged very similarly—you can almost picture the sets laid out on the stage, the actors demanding your full attention—and in this movie, that’s a treat. Olivier and Caine provide brilliant performances, and both were nominated as Best Actor for 1972’s Oscars (the award went to Brando for The Godfather).

The plot is superbly spun. I don’t want to give anything away, but by the end you’ll be guessing about who to believe about anything. This is a story that—for the most part—doesn’t treat the audience like idiots. You actually have to pay attention, listen, and think to fully grasp what is happening. There isn’t enough of that in most movies these days.

While I really do love this movie, the verbal fencing match (which is both well done and necessary) does slow the pacing down in the first act, and a bit of the second, which means it can’t pull in the coveted 5 star rating I’d love to give it. It’s a solid 4 star film, though. Easily one of the best mystery movies I’ve ever seen. Twice now, I didn’t see the end coming.

(In visiting IMDB to get the link above, I ran across this remake planned for 2008. Caine returns, but takes the Olivier role and Jude Law steps in as Milo. With Kenneth Branagh directing, this could be an excellent movie. Sadly, I doubt it will be a box-office success, but I hope I’m proven wrong.)

Technorati Tags: Sleuth, mystery, play, movie, murder, Michael Caine, Lawrence Olivier, Jude Law

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