The story idea here affords the opportunity for intense drama and ample raw nerve emotion. But there are weaknesses that prevent THE RACK from being a masterpiece. Many weaknesses.
One is that the foundation of the story is never seen. All we have here is the 3 quarters of a PERRY MASON episode with no peek at the actual crime being committed. Paul Newman looks like movie star Paul Newman rather than a recently released POW. Too often through the movie, people speak to each other without pause as if each always knows what the other person will say. This can sometimes add to a movie, showing the viewer that two characters share a special close connection. But here, it just happens with most everyone we see.
Instead of hinging the story on raw nerve emotions, the deep personal feelings all become removed to a remote location, wrapped up in a tight bundle, as we are asked to ponder does an emotional breaking point really exist, or do we only think it exists. Does a person really know they cannot go on, or do they only think that they cannot go on? If a person who once thought they could not go on is asked to imagine that they did go on for 30 additional seconds, because they can imagine it now at a calm easy comfy time, did any breaking point ever really be proven? The possible answers are so intransitive that if a viewer decides that it is all only a word game, then why is no one in the movie voicing a challenge?
The movie ends with easy defeatism. It is unsatisfying. That said, this movie is still easy to watch. It moves along okay as said in the beginning, the story idea is very interesting.
One is that the foundation of the story is never seen. All we have here is the 3 quarters of a PERRY MASON episode with no peek at the actual crime being committed. Paul Newman looks like movie star Paul Newman rather than a recently released POW. Too often through the movie, people speak to each other without pause as if each always knows what the other person will say. This can sometimes add to a movie, showing the viewer that two characters share a special close connection. But here, it just happens with most everyone we see.
Instead of hinging the story on raw nerve emotions, the deep personal feelings all become removed to a remote location, wrapped up in a tight bundle, as we are asked to ponder does an emotional breaking point really exist, or do we only think it exists. Does a person really know they cannot go on, or do they only think that they cannot go on? If a person who once thought they could not go on is asked to imagine that they did go on for 30 additional seconds, because they can imagine it now at a calm easy comfy time, did any breaking point ever really be proven? The possible answers are so intransitive that if a viewer decides that it is all only a word game, then why is no one in the movie voicing a challenge?
The movie ends with easy defeatism. It is unsatisfying. That said, this movie is still easy to watch. It moves along okay as said in the beginning, the story idea is very interesting.