I forgot what a masterpiece of paranoia this movie is; only in this
case, it isn't paranoia, everyone really IS out to get you! This is
James Coburn's best performance in my opinion, as a psychiatrist
who has been conscripted to become the President's analyst, and
when he decides to quit, discovers just how disposal American
citizens are. This is my pick for THE paranoia movie of the 1960s.
That this movie came out in 1967 is incredible; it deals with
assassination carried out casually by the FBI, the CIA, the violence
that has been absorbed as wholesome by America, the escape
from violence into sex and drugs, and much, much more, all
during the time of the Vietnam War and zero tolerance for differing
views. The speech by the black FBI agent in the beginning on
how he discovered racism is especially painful, and remarkable
given the time period.
The movie is hysterically funny, cynical, black, and most ironically,
hopeful, and a must-see for any film lover. The script is terrific, but
the direction stands out in the inspired camerawork. This
obviously was a labor of love by the director/writer, and
interestingly, one of only two or three non-t.v. films he ever directed.
If you see it, you may be bored by today's sex and gore standards.
But if you remember the 60s, keep them in mind when you see
this film. You'll wonder how it ever got made.
Ten out of ten stars, because there isn't anything I can find wrong
with this film; it's brilliant in every aspect.
case, it isn't paranoia, everyone really IS out to get you! This is
James Coburn's best performance in my opinion, as a psychiatrist
who has been conscripted to become the President's analyst, and
when he decides to quit, discovers just how disposal American
citizens are. This is my pick for THE paranoia movie of the 1960s.
That this movie came out in 1967 is incredible; it deals with
assassination carried out casually by the FBI, the CIA, the violence
that has been absorbed as wholesome by America, the escape
from violence into sex and drugs, and much, much more, all
during the time of the Vietnam War and zero tolerance for differing
views. The speech by the black FBI agent in the beginning on
how he discovered racism is especially painful, and remarkable
given the time period.
The movie is hysterically funny, cynical, black, and most ironically,
hopeful, and a must-see for any film lover. The script is terrific, but
the direction stands out in the inspired camerawork. This
obviously was a labor of love by the director/writer, and
interestingly, one of only two or three non-t.v. films he ever directed.
If you see it, you may be bored by today's sex and gore standards.
But if you remember the 60s, keep them in mind when you see
this film. You'll wonder how it ever got made.
Ten out of ten stars, because there isn't anything I can find wrong
with this film; it's brilliant in every aspect.