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dychus-50706
Reviews
The Big Sleep (1978)
Brilliant cast but...
Look, there's a lot to like about this movie. You could have cast a whole movie with James Stewart, Edward Fox, and Joan Collins as leads, and they get tiny parts here. They are as enjoyable to watch as are the leads. Mitchum had many many fans in England. I sort of understand the change of setting, though I don't approve.
I like Robert Mitchum very much, but his best work of the decade was as Eddie Coyle. (If you haven't seen that one, please find it.) I don't buy him as Philip
Marlowe-he's too old, and he probably was three years earlier in "Farewell My Lovely." (In fact he's not much younger than Stewart, who plays the invalid General Sternwood).
Put that aside and you'll enjoy this. For once I like the voice-over, and the meditation on death at the film's close-lifted word for word from the book-lends grace notes to the tragedy. Mitchum's voice conveys Philip Marlowe much better than his body and actions do. Maybe this movie is better heard than seen.
Marlowe (2022)
After you ignore the obvious flaws
...Marlowe's flaws are many: Neeson is far too old to be Marlowe in 1939, let alone have fought in WW1, the script name-drops movies that hadn't been released in 1939, some characters seem to exist for Marlowe to fight for no reason, and the ending makes zero sense given racial hatred of the era. Get past those and you'll enjoy the cast (it's the best-cast misfire of the year if not the decade), the beautifully filmed settings (we know L. A. is gorgeous but this made it poignantly so), and the music. I certainly enjoyed it! I'll recommend it if you're a Raymond Chandler completist. Neil Jordan completists are also welcome.
Cuba (1979)
Not a great movie but well worth a look
You don't come to this for action or romance; the former is fleeting and the latter isn't believable. The wit evident throughout, the cinematography, and the talent of the cast almost-just almost-make it work.