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Is this the greatest film of the last 30 years?

posted 18 years ago by Gondorff4
31 replies | jump to latest

I know, I know, it's long, it's about communism (and the dissolusionment in same), Beatty's a liberal, blah blah blah...
BUT- what about the film as a film? The scope of history that it covers, the many varied and complex characters, the intelligent and educated exploration of world politics, the brilliant acting, gorgeous cinematography, deeply moving love story, the many fascinating locations, the amazing and unprecedented use of the "witnesses", etc...
This is a film for grown-ups. It requires that you pay attention and give yourself over to it. It offers no easy answers. It is not, as is popularly mis-understood, an endorsement of Communism. Just the opposite. It is about a political idealist. He could have believed in any of the "isms" and chances are he would have come out dissolutioned in the end when he realized that there is no utopian form of government, and that no 'system' works.
This really is a special film. There are other films from the last 30 years that are brilliant as well, in my opinion, Apocalypse Now, Fargo, Pulp Fiction, Schindler's List, Good Fellas, Raging Bull. But, it is a short list. In terms of sheer ambition realized, I urge everyone to pick up a copy of REDS, or, better still, if you can see it in a theatre (I know it's running at the Academy in Los Angeles in the next couple of months) I think you'll find that it delivers in ways you won't believe.
It is certainly the best work Diane Keaton has ever done, Nicholson is phenomenal as the tragic, romantic Eugene O'Neil, Storaro's photography is truly breathtaking. Everyone is so wonderfully at the top of their game.
There is certainly no way a studio would back a film as brazenly daring as REDS today. God knows what it would cost in today's market (it was expensive THEN). More's the pity. Today, we are stuck with sadly feeble minded pictures, almost devoid of any true artistic vision, and any exploration of politics and history is almost non-existent. Warren Beatty is one of the great brave filmmakers of my time. REDS is his masterpiece. I wish he worked more, I miss his intellect and his wit.
Don't let the scary conservatives put you off seeing REDS. Their concept that an examination of an idea is the same as an endorsement of it is just wrong and childish. This is an even handed, yet un-compromising film for thoughtful, intelligent people. I'm always amused and saddened by the posts I read on IMDB about Beatty, Redford, etc...The arts do tend to attract more liberal minded people, art is the exploration of the human soul and condition so that it may illuminate our own lives and experiences. It is hard to accomplish this in the state of mind that excludes and is suspicious of ideas that are different than ones own.
REDS, in my opinion, is the great film of our time. A somewhat forgotten masterpiece that deserves another look.

[–] Dominique2 18 years ago

Gondorff4, I couldn't agree more with you. Although I'm a huge Beatty fan, I'm not charmed by most movies about ideologies as they often tend to be patronizing to the viewer and overall have an air of indoctrination about them. Beatty managed to make a very tough and impopular subject accessible, human. Although it takes (many) more than 1 viewing to take in all the layers, because of its high artistic and intellectual level, the movie is never boring, condescending or self-important. It's also not trying to pound in ONE specific opinion. It is indeed by far Keaton's career performance, and I think she never looked better either. Beatty is in a league of his own, as he comes across as a true, genuine, honest man, both professionally as personally. How many filmmakers, while trying to get funding for their movie, will in all honesty tell the bean counters they have NO idea what the movie will cost, eventually? Most people will give a number, and then proceed to exceed it, many times.
Gotta love that man

[–] pearson-7 18 years ago

Reds wasn't even the greatest film of 1981, a fairly weak year for cinema.
Chariots of Fire was better, and Chariots was not that great.

[–] filmklassik 17 years ago

Sorry, but any year that offers up REDS, BODY HEAT, ARTHUR and RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (arguably the greatest adventure movie ever made) can not, by any stretch of the imagination, be considered a "weak year for cinema."

[–] JohnKoliba 17 years ago

I agree with the previous guy. You've named four films that're maybe 7/10 each.

[–] MooMoo445 18 years ago

I wouldn't say its the best but definitely falls into the "one of" category.

[–] butzi 18 years ago

I totally agree with your assessment. Whenever people ask me what my favourite film is, I say Reds (even though there are others in the same category for me)just to see their reaction. They say HUH? and then I explain its strengths and the incredible scope of the movie. Anyway - thanks for the post. It's nice to have your opinions stated by others.

[–] rahul_capri 18 years ago

Dont understand why the *beep* is it so underappreciated;all three lead actors gave the best performance of their lives(Yes Jack Nicholson too)

[–] thelivster 18 years ago

No

Son. This is the United States of America. We don't really believe in Miranda anymore. Denny Crane

[–] Twan_UMaine 18 years ago

I don't think it's even fair to say that this is "certainly the best work Diane Keaton has ever done."

2 years before this she was in Manhattan, and in 1976 she was in Annie Hall. These are two Woody Allen classics.

I don't think that a film has to cover a massive scope of history or be overtly complex to be a great film. I know it's ridiculous to try and quantify the greatness of film in general, as I don't really want to detract from Reds just to justify why I think that these films are both superior (I mean, I think Reds is a very good film as well). But if you were to look on various lists of the great films I would contend that you would be more likely to find the two Woody Allen films on far more lists than Reds.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] dwendt_99 17 years ago

Gondorff4, I am a conservative and I love Reds. Your rant makes you appear as my Zinoviev. Dissent is the Revolution --- indeed!

[–] kewikle 17 years ago

Certainly not a great film at all and overrated. I appreciated the scope of what this screenplay attempts to portray, but it fell far too short of my expectations.

I don't feel compelled to elaborate on all the specifics. It was essentially an artistic flop with a poorly paced plot. It rarely "felt" as though the scenes were unfolding properly and the film (in general) lacked a certain appeal.

Emotional confusion ran rampant among the main characters and I absolutely despised their weak and self-serving so called "liberated" personalities..nauseating.

So fitting: Crud movie in remembrance of a degenerate political movement.

3/10*s

[–] smbdy_someday 17 years ago

It is one hell of a film. Definately on the best films I've have ever seen. It's a great example of what cinema could be. And I actually saw the academy screening of it this past fall. In my opinion (and totally understand that it's just that: my opinion) the greatest film of the last 30 years is Moulin Rouge!. Having said that I always think of this film. I feel real stupid but I do. I mean, I'll be eating lunch of getting my mail and I'll think about it. It's an amazing character study. It's an engrossing drama, romance, historical, and even political film. Beautiful score and great cinematography.

[–] singinsuccubus 17 years ago

There is so much I'd love to say in regards to this film, but time constraints and the need to sleep leave me without the ability to do so now. I do, however, want to reply to one thing you said.

"This is a film for grown-ups."

Nothing wrong with that statement, but it made me smile at the fact that I loved this film when I was but a child (first saw it around the age of 8). My mother loved this movie, and I am eternally grateful for this fact, as it remains one of my favourite films today.

[–] onepotato2 17 years ago

There is so much I'd love to say in regards to this film, but time constraints and the need to sleep leave me without the ability to do so now. I do, however, want to reply to one thing you said.

"This is a film for grown-ups."

by - singinsuccubus on Thu Oct 4 2007 23:30:44
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I beg to differ. This is a film for poseurs who can't talk about ideas.

[–] pat-553 17 years ago

Great movie that I always wanted to see and finally did. Right up there with The Deer Hunter and Raging Bull in the "greatest of last 30 years" category.