I saw this at the Lammle in Beverly Hills. Walon Green gave a talk with two academic/writers who hogged the mike over him, as if we weren't more interested in what Green had to say. Anyway it was good to see on the big screen.
Some random observations:
* It's too long. A lot of stuff I kept thinking "that could be cut" - particularly in between the heist and the final shoot out there was a lot of to-ing and fro-ing.
*Angel, the Mexican, really is a bad ass - he shoots people with as much relish as the gringos, and shoots his ex girlfriend, and threatens his fellow gang members with shooting.
*I think there's at least 20 prostitutes who get a line or a close up - there's a lot of prostitutes.
* The action scenes are cleverly constructed and devised - the Wild Bunch are clever. I also like how the logistics of it are discussed - the importance of raising money, seeking investors, etc.
* The finale is magnificent. The final reflective moments, "why not", the walk into town, shooting, etc.
* Ernest Borgnine's character feels inconsistent. He doesn't sleep with whores but he drinks and is as harsh as the others.
*Edmond O'Brien is nearly unrecogniseable even on the big screen.
*William Holden is great. Actually all the casting is excellent. The Mexican actors are great too.
*The production design and cinematography are rich and true. It looks amazing.
It is a classic. Peckinpah had a lot of issues though!
No comments:
Post a Comment