I've been a closet Missouri Breaks fan for years. I thought I was alone and I'm glad to see so many in the comments section who like the film. I always had a sneaking suspicion that Brando was putting us on and found this amusing and delightful. He was one of a kind. No phoney.
shareI loved it too, I'm actually quite surprised to see such a low score for the film. I don't really get what's not to like, an unconventional quirky script, Jack Nicholson, Marlon Brando and it's a western!
shareIt's an unusual take on the western theme. I love it for so many reasons. Watch it gain cult status over the years.
shareYou're right about this movie gaining in status over time. I've watched it climb from 5.5 to nearly 7 on this very site -- and in a very short period of time. A lot of people who don't like the movie seem to feel that it is trying not to be liked. When viewed that way, why should anybody like the movie?
But those of us who love The Missouri Breaks particularly appreciate the oddities that make it so much more than merely a money-making Brando/Nicholson vehicle.
I like it too and am surprised. When seeing the film I guessed an average of 7.0. The film was actually chosen as one of the 100 Best Westerns by Belgian author Jean-Marc Bouineau in his book Les Cent Chefs-D'oeuvres Du Western. It's obviously a controversial film.
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The Missouri Breaks is a real western.
shareIt's only rated as a 6.0 right now. Sad. Marlon's performance sharpens the film's magnetism. For me, that is. I'm curious to know how much of the character was his invention and how much was predesigned.
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There is a lot of method to Brando's madness in this film, as far as his accents go. He uses certain accents to disguise himself. The Irish accent, he saves for the rancher boss, and for Nicholson's character. He switches up accents for Tod (a very Midwestern twangy accent)...to pass himself off as a good ol boy. And does it yet again (a "normal" accent, when taunting Harry Dean Stanton's character, in his granny outfit. In his last scene, he is back in his Irish accent. Clayton probably doesn't even know what nationality he is, anymore. Part of Brando's genius.
shareBrando is so over the top in this movie-- it's almost like he's daring the audience to expose him as a joke. The joke, however, is that even when he's acting like a fool, Brando is always watchable. This movie plods along when Brando is not onscreen, and jumps to life whenever he enters the frame. This self-indulgent performance is like the evil twin of the one he turned in with "Island of Dr. Moreau." Without Brando hamming it up, this movie would be DOA. He certainly appeared to be enjoying himself, and that comes through in his performance.
shareI liked it very much too. When I was flipping threw channels I got lucky and saw it from the beggining, seeing that it had Jack Nicholson and Marlon Brando in the same movie was enough for me. I'm not a big western guy, but besides the setting, this movie could have been done at any time; 12th century, even today. Definetly watchable, and Brando is so freakin evil in this movie, you just have to sit back and take it in.
Beyond Infinite...
I just saw it again for the first time uncut last night. The first time around, I was 8 years old and my Dad a big fan of Brando's took me to see it. I thought Brando was funny and really enjoyable to watch in it. Sure he is a nut, but so what.. I was amazed at the weight he put on from just Last Tango in Paris to this movie and even got heavier as we all know. He also wasn't scared to show his fat in the bathtub scene and even allowed good ole Jack to call him fat.
Nicholson and Dean Stanton who I know for fact that Harry was a good friend to Marlon up until the last days of his life were very good in it as well.
I all think think that the supporting cast especialy John P. Ryan should get some props as well..
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The Missouri Breaks features one of my favorite Brando performances. He's so eccentric in this one that you can't take your eyes off of him.
This film gets better with repeated viewings. Brando and Nicholson have some great moments together, particularly the bathtub sequence.
"Dry your eyes baby, it's out of character."
brando is brilliant in this...unpredictable, eccentric, a unique characterisation
"Im just a bum sitting in a motor home on a film set, BRANDO said, and they come looking for ZEUS".
If he was putting everybody on (and I suspect you're right) then by definition he WAS "a phoney"...
"It's not the years, honey, it's the mileage... "
Brando's last great performance. The film is not so good though. Especially the scenes with Kathleen Llyod and Nicholson , almost brings the movie to a standstill. An explaination as to the accents Brando uses. In the script it stated that Lee Clayton was as crazy as a loon. Brando took this as a free pass to go as far as he could with the character.
yeah id say a put on would be about right ,the film was o.k brando's characterization was brilliant.I got it ,and assassin comes in all shapes and sizes knows how to blend in be and every man.Even though he was very flamboyant,in his role .its weird he managed to make it work .I have to admit that at first i was a bit turned off but the more i watched.I saw his brilliance work its magic.The bath tub scene with jack nicholson when he turns his back to him .Genius ,i laughed so hard.The guy definitely had a way about bringing out what he needed for the scene.From his co stars ,he knew how to draw you out into the open.So he could have his way with you .Overall the movie was good ,not great but good ;thats hard for me to say its not great being the brando fan that i am.
shareThe real truth is, if Brando had been goofing on us in all his roles throughout his career, he never would have become the great 'Marlon Brando'. He'd be remembered today as an odball actor like Timothy Carey.
The fact that he nailed his greatest roles so well that he owns them, like 'Stanley Kowalski', 'Terry Malloy', 'Vito Corleone' and a few others, allowed him to goof all over us in 'Missouri Breaks' and we proclaim it as genius.
This performance reminded me of the last few movies made by the great John Barrymore.
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