«Hud»

This is one of Newmans best, because he plays a completely dispicable

person with no redeeming qualities. He has no scruples and no character.

It is a great departure for Newman and he does a Great job.

[Friday, November 14, 2008]

«One of the most fascinating character studies of all time...»

Quite possibly one of my all time favorite movies ever, `Hud' is an extraordinary example of how subtlety can be so overwhelmingly powerful. Using the swagger of its stars, `Hud' immortalizes itself as one of the strongest character studies I've ever had the pleasure of watching. Sadly, all too many individuals don't see `Hud' for what it was intended to be. They view Hud Bannon as a sort of anti-hero; a villain to be adored and or idolized when in reality he is a despicable and selfish human being not worth our adoration. We watch the film waiting for the good in Hud to shine through, but it's not there, and no matter how much we want to take his side and defend him we can't; or at least we shouldn't.

That is the beauty of `Hud', for when taken properly it is a magnificent depiction of human morality at its lowest.

Not many films make the most morally reprehensible their focal points, but `Hud' is certainly all about Hud Bannon. Working on his father's ranch, Hud has a feeling of being owed by everyone around him. He views the ranch as his personal investment, something to reap from once his father dies. He lives his life the way he wants to, violently and immorally, starting brawls and courting married women. He drinks like a fish and this leads to emotionally scarring outbursts between Hud and his father. All the while Hud's nephew Lonnie is soaking in the very essence of Hud, trying to decide if he is a man to admire or judge.

The audience is in the very same predicament as Lonnie, trying to decide just who this man really is, and how we should feel about him.

Caught in the middle of this battle of testosterone is the beautiful and sincere Alma Brown, Homer Bannon's (Hud's father) housekeeper. She witnesses the interactions between Hud, Homer and Lonnie and she also sees the affect that Hud has on the entire household. She watches Homer struggle to find the light within his son and she watches Lonnie come into his own manhood, battling the ways of Hud that are manifest within himself. She loves Homer, Lonnie and Hud, but she is a much more balanced person than the rest of them. She is not shut off to Hud as Homer seems to be, and she is not blinded by admiration as Lonnie seems to be; and she is no where near as self concerned as Hud seems to be. She is the films moral compass, and the most engaging and emotionally beautiful character in the bunch.

The performances within `Hud' are marvelously full, delving deep into these characters and delivering truly astonishing pieces of work. Melvyn Douglas won the Oscar for his portrayal of Homer. His obvious disappointment with his son is tragic, and Douglas makes his disappointment its own character, breathing life into that emotion beautifully. Even more impressive though is Brandon De Wilde who plays Lonnie. He gives Lonnie this adolescent naivity without ever making him appear stupid. He struggles with his view of Hud, but it is portrayed in a very honest and believable fashion. Paul Newman is quickly becoming one of my all time favorite actors ever. It's sad to me that it took his death to wake me up to his career (I had only seen two of his films before his death, and since then I've seen ten) but with every tragedy comes beauty, and if his passing has inspired others to research his career then he will be able to live on and continue to enrich the lives of others. His portrayal of Hud may very well be one of my favorite performances of his. He understands his characters vileness and is able to portray it without losing his natural charm, a charm needed to make the struggle over intentions believable and engaging.

As great as the men are, the film belongs to Patricia Neal, who also won the Oscar. As Alma Brown she is a complete and utter revelation. She wears her emotional responses so well that one cannot help but adopt her view of things, relating with her and agreeing with her every step of the way.

I don't think that I would be too presumptuous to say that it appears that Ang Lee may have been inspired by Martin Ritt's direction when filming `Brokeback Mountain'. Now the two films are no where near one another when you consider subject matter, but the films are constructed very similarly. The use of the score, both of which are acoustically blessed, is a sharp similarity; but the way Lee caressed the screen with each rich depiction of character is very reminiscent of Ritt's powerful work here. Both films are based in the south, and both films embrace the culture brilliantly. Add to that the fact that both films contain conflicting moral dilemmas and you have two very strong yet comparable bodies of work. I know that some may not see where I'm getting at, but watch the two films back to back and see for yourself.

In the end I highly, highly recommend this film, for it is a brilliant masterpiece of cinema and definitely one of the finest ever made.

[Thursday, November 13, 2008]

«"It don't take long to kill things; not like it does to grow."»

The movie opens with scenes of endless barren Texas flatland, and a dusty small town caught in the middle of it like a spot on a napkin. Open spaces characterize the film, which takes place on a ranch surrounded by lonesome roads. It feels like open space; a breath of fresh air from the wishy-washy, politically correct, happy-ending Hollywood films of today.

Based on Larry McMurtry's novel "Horseman, Pass By," "Hud" is a gruff, manly meditation on life and death, loneliness, and moving on. An old cattle rancher's hopes are shot to death, and his few relatives are left to carry on his legacy.

Hud is an arrogant, untamed cowboy who has more trouble to him than he reveals. His father (the old wise rancher known as Granddad) resents his freewheeling irresponsibility and misses the older brother that Hud killed by accident. Lonnie is the young optimistic grandson (nephew to Hud) who takes strongly to Hud's wild ways yet also admires his solid reliable grandfather. Halmea is the housekeeper, a temptress to both Hud and Lonnie who escapes them both in the end. Granddad's cows are diseased and he is unsure of what the future of his ranch will be. He is old and may not see much more of it. He's a wise man who's seen a lot of life, Hud's in his middle years and being forced to come to terms with it, and Lonnie is young, yearning to pass into manhood.

"Hud" possesses the quiet understatement of the desolate landscape that surrounds it. The characters are honest (except Hud) people and live life at their own pace. It is a curiously detached life, in the middle of nowhere, one in which the characters fight a constant battle to fend off loneliness. It is an unpretentiously philosophical movie. Each character ponders life and death, and because of several disastrous family deaths before the movie starts, it haunts each of them like a ghost over the gaping desert. "No one gets out of life alive," reflects Hud as he and Lonnie are on their way into town for some wild carousing. The theme of mortality floats through the film, as does the theme of moving on. The ending is not happy; it's matter-of-fact and understated.

That's "Hud:" life. Rugged, rough, and quietly contemplative life.

[Sunday, November 02, 2008]

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