MovieChat Forums > Focus (2002) Discussion > Very good movie...

Very good movie...

posted 21 years ago by MaxQuant
10 replies | jump to latest

An excellent movie! Fine acting, a must-see!

Through the way the story is told, it comes really close to home (non-Jewish homes, I mean). I never realised that there was such a big anti-semitic movement (I thought there wasn't any) in America during WW II. This kind of discrimination (anti-semitism) is brought close to the (non-jewish) viewer by having the hatred being experienced by a non-Jew. It is the utter frustation that was conveyed that really stuck with me. Somehow, if I see a movie that deals with anti-semitism brought on Jews, I never feel the frustation that must have been felt by Jews.

A strong movie, and strong performances by Bill Macy and Laura Dern.

Max Quant

[–] TracesOfLove 21 years ago

I agree. A lot of the user comments I read said this movie was preachy or very black and white. But it's a 'in your face' kind of movie, and very few people end up fighting back or speaking up when put in Macy's position. That is probably why it seems unreal. But I can tell you that I know older people like this who even today when speaking about a person, think it's important to the story to tell what Christian branch they belong to, never mind other religious backgrounds! My paternal (WASP) Grandparents wouldn't even come to my Christening because it was at a Catholic church! So I can only imagine how bad things were back then.

If I had a nickel for every cigarette your mom smoked, I'd be dead.

[–] ssteele1 20 years ago

Definitely! Wow, I really loved this one. Strong acting. Very realistic dialogue that doesn't conform to the common error of assigning every character the same IQ (which is generally the writer's IQ). Unique and interesting camera play and cinematography.
Someone needs to write a replacement review for the ridiculous one that is currently up.

[–] c-huddleston 19 years ago

I'll go with everything everyone has said so far. The acting performances are excellent and I feel the movie has been seriously underrated. Probably because the content is not exactly something to feel comfortable about.

[–] hilaryg 19 years ago

Just thought I'd mention that another film in this vein is Gentleman's Agreement (with Gregory Peck). It also features a non-Jew experiencing anti-Semitism, although in this flick, it's done by choice as part of an experiment. (Well, experiment might not be the right word, but to avoid spilling the premise, that's all I'll say. Definitely worth checking out. Especially if you liked Focus.)

[–] c-huddleston 19 years ago

Thanks

[–] dusan711 19 years ago

I think that William H. Macy and Laura Dern both give brilliant performances in FOCUS. Really, I never would have thought of pairing these two wonderful actors together, but they work so well and really have remarkable chemistry.

FOCUS is an underrated film, though I can see why most critics didn't warm up to it. I didn't care for the film the first time I saw it.

I have seen it several times now because when I don't like a movie that I was expecting to like, I usually will see it multiple times to figure out why. This is one of those films that you MUST see more than once to appreciate. At least 3 times.

I still don't like the far too obvious inserts of the carousel...and that carnival music they play when they show it. In my opinion it is the films only flaw. Unfortunately, it's a big one. Luckily, though, the rest of the film is excellent, mostly thanks to brilliant acting and some good cinematography.

The best scene in the film is when Laura Dern and William H. Macy are turned away at that summer resort, and she tells the guy off, and then she and Macy fight in the car. One of Laura Dern's best acted scenes ever...and that's saying a lot because she's one of the best american actresses ever.

[–] TheHitchcockBlonde 19 years ago

In Australia, SBS has an 'American Indie' season on at the moment on and this was shown last night.

I was impressed.

Great acting and really good cinematography too. It seemed a bit 'theatrical' at times, but that didn't detract from the impact. I never thought Macy could be sexy, but that scene at the park was great. I really felt for the characters. It scares me how hatred can breed and become out of control. Well worth watching.

www.betterthancheesecake.blogspot.com

[–] qouth_the_raven 19 years ago

I caught it on SBS too. You are right: impressive. I liked the theatrical elements which I thought added to the impact. Each to their own though.

It was interesting in view of the recent racial unrest in Sydney. The line by Finklestein that went something like "they weren't out to get [at?] him but to get Lawrence [to their side?]" rang true given the recent discourse by white supremacists.

Given the movies SBS has shown "Thirteen" would now be a nice inclusion.

[–] Possessed-like-a-Fish 19 years ago

Yeah, I was going to watch it on SBS also, but I totally forgot, so the next day I rented it at the local Video Ezy.

It was good. I thought only Black people where treated that badly during WW2, but so where the Jews. I learnt alot and made me appreciate how I live. Great film.

[–] fnj2002 14 years ago

I never thought Macy could be sexy

William H. Macy can be anything. The depth of his acting skill is breathtaking.