DT
17Mar12
(To clarify, I just find that the filmmaking well surpasses the storytelling in this movie, and that the lack of sustained tension is balanced by the many short, sharp bolts of excitement that play out instead).
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Displaying all 19 wall posts
DT
17Mar12
No shortage of sharp lines or slick staging here - they make up for the fact that there actually isn’t any lasting suspense in the storytelling at all, and with many parts also being poorly paced, or so it seems; the scenes involving Tony and his sister are actually the most cogent. But the film’s strongest points are just so sexy and electrifying that they alone make for a good time. An erratic, uneven but very palatable piece of entertainment.
Greg S.
19Feb12
The entire film evokes the style of sensationalist crime reporting of the era and the acting is as much a part of that style as anything. The film is about the excitement of danger and irresponsibility and the use of 'the world is yours' is the most frightening implication since it implies that that same irresponsibility is to become synonymous America as a whole. Masterpiece, even with the lecture scene.
johnsonisjohnson and 3 others like this
Holger Haase
11Feb12
Despite its reputation not a film to have aged terribly well. The acting is ludicrously over-the-top, the accents terribly cliched. 80 years in hard hitting drama has turned to involuntarily funny.
my nigga totoro
7Feb12
+ this movie sucks because it doesn't have a dated soundtrack and Al Pacino overacting like a moron.
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Holger Haase
11Feb12
No, it's got Paul Muni and just about everyone else overacting like morons. ;-)
my nigga totoro
7Feb12
maaan, that lecturing scene, brief though it may be, makes me wish i had a time traveling device so i could go back and kick Hughes in the nuts.
Holger Haase likes this
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my nigga totoro
7Feb12
sorry, but anyone who says a Hawks film has "Terrible camera work." is a joke.
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CVH
7Feb12
Christ oh mighty. You're still here? Jesus fuck. I'm not saying the original was shit. It had some strong elements of it, yes. But the remake has more character depth and development, the physical violence looks more realistic and is far more powerful cinematically, and the acting was flawless. And Muni's downfall in the original happens far too abruptly. I'm a huge Hawks fan, but this film just didn't do it for me. I'm sure it was far more groundbreaking when it was released in 1932.
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my nigga totoro
7Feb12
"But the remake has more character depth and development, the physical violence looks more realistic and is far more powerful cinematically, and the acting was flawless." epic fail "I'm a huge Hawks fan" no, you're not.
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CVH
7Feb12
Jesus, you're like a little troll. You're like one of those annoying film school douchebags who you just wanna slap. "Oh, cause every Hawks film just has perfect cinematography and perfect acting! And perfect direction! Oh, he could never make a bad film! That's just impossible!" By the way, please don't use the phrase, "Epic Fail."
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my nigga totoro
7Feb12
"You're like one of those annoying film school douchebags who you just wanna slap." irony overload.
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my nigga totoro
7Feb12
Totally, bro; check it out, I'm like PT Anderson and the Coen brothers; shit, I'm unique and I'm gonna be goin' places in life.
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my nigga totoro
7Feb12
Thanks, but I don't need well wishes from another film school failure. I don't know, why are you arguing with a troll on Mubi? don't you have tons of work in the film industry by now PT Anderson Jr?
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CVH
7Feb12
Buddy, who the fuck are you??? I mean, you're making all these ridiculous comments about me when you don't know anything about my personal life. So I ask again. Who the fuck are YOU... exactly? Are you some famous auteur I should know about? I've at least worked on real Hollywood films. What have you done that's so special? You target people on Mubi and start throwing out accusations? Judging them? We're all trying to succeed in this world and having people like you, who have nothing better to do, just sinks this society further into the ground.
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Erik Gregersen
1Sep11
Lots of great bits and scenes and performances (Boris Karloff even shows up as Bugs Moran), but it didn't quite come together for me and I can't really say why.
Christopher Smith
28Jan11
A true classic and seminal to its genre. Faster-paced and harder-edged than most films of its era, and laced with dark humor - the only thing sharper than Howard Hawks' direction is Ben Hecht's screenplay. Even nearly 80 years later it maintains its innovation and intensity.
Zachary George Najarian-Najafi
7Oct10
Far more effective, subtle, and exciting than the 1983 remake. Howard Hawks' breakthrough film remains a towering classic of American cinema. Everything works so well here, and once the film finds its footing it's an inescapable experience. The performances, dialogue, and cinematography are all top notch and there are so many brilliantly staged sequences. Highly recommended.
Matthew Ferry
7Jul10
This movie was incredible when it burst out at the same time as Public Enemy and the quite inferior yet more popular Little Caesar. The later one might be better but this one still packs a wallop!
Pierluigi Puccini
23Mar09
Electrifying. Probably the most violent among all gangster films of the period.