neil_baker Reviews

The Victors (1963)

Disjointed, Different and Brave

[2 January 2004]

A somewhat distasteful but fine, very watchable film. It has the one cynical message of how WWII consequentially brought about some sort of demise in all those involved in the Allies efforts to rid Europe of the Nazis - both soldiers and citizens. In a series of short scenes, different characters take centre stage in depicting different aspects of the main theme. Sometimes the best in people is displayed, with genuine friendships and affections, but those with more exposure to the conflict as it progresses from the invasion of France, are more susceptible to their darker sides coming to the fore. Some are more able to overcome this (like Peppard), others sink deeper into despair (like Hamilton), some don't question how they have become worse (like Mitcham), while the ultimate downfall of others is physical rather than mental maiming (like Wallach). Faults do exist. The film is a little heavy laden with making the same point in unrelated scenes, and sometimes the attempted pathos is over done. Also, like all films of its era, the 'likeable' male characters have to be clean cut and good looking, any black character is too weak, and there are too many glamorous women, with the only strong woman character not being pleasant. Republican Yanks will hate the film's lack of heroism and fair play, along with it's criticism of the virtues the USA was fighting for: Profiteers doing well as the free-market economy went to war and GI's capable of being as racist as their Nazi foes. In the main its an enjoyable, nicely acted film - one of my favourites - a refreshing change to all the simplistic, pious and very corny "good over-coming evil" representation of this conflict a-la Spielberg, etc.

Where Eagles Dare (1968)

An alternative view of a popular film

[24 December 2001]

This film is a typical contrived and predictable action film based upon an implausible premise. This in itself is OK, because most action films are like this. This one is packed full of explosions and gunfire, is well filmed with some spectacular settings allowed by a big budget. If you like to see the bad guys get their 'come-uppence' then you will enjoy a ludicrously high body count too. Yet to me it comes across as an expensive flop. The film would have worked if it were tongue in cheek. Instead the director adapts a serious approach, which makes the whole thing almost unintentionally comical, especially a group of middle-aged British film stalwarts like Donald Houston and the rotund, alcohol fuelled Richard Burton are supposed to be a team of crack British troops! The direction is also too weak, allowing Burton, et all to ham it up throughout like a group of old theatre 'luvvies'. As for Clint Eastwood you're not sure he is trying to act cool or is merely portraying his very limited range as an actor. The bad guys are not menacing or effective enough, and are too easily disposed off. This means there is no tension to the proceedings - In all confrontations you know who is going to win (the solely one-way fight on the cable car is a prime example of this). It makes you wish for a 'fast forward' to skip to the next scene. Despite this I know lots of people who enjoyed the film but for me it was a hollow, expensive piece of tosh which was trying to be something else.