Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | April 21, 2005 | | Summary | a tribute to independence | Content
 | One of the best movies I've ever seen. Other reviewers who know better than I have written that it presents the independence of the cowboy very well. It also shows the independence of the man--Kirk Douglas--who had enough faith in the story to bring it to the screen, and to hire a blacklisted screenwriter--Dalton Trumbo--to write the script during or just after the McCarthy era.
I've read Douglas bought the rights to the story (The Brave Cowboy by Ed Abbey) and personally pushed the project the rest of the way. Douglas' courage is at least equal to his acting talent.
Abbey went on to write other stories about the West and independence, and our trashing of the natural world, particularly the desert. He has written that Trumbo wrote a better screenplay than he could ever have written, and he's a damn good writer. I don't think I've ever heard another author say that about a screenplay based on his story or novel. |
| Rating | | | Date | April 18, 2005 | | Summary | a true icon in filmdom | Content
| I first saw this movie as a first-run film. It has been one of my favorites since that first time. If you think you know cowboys, this film is probably going to shake you up a little bit. If you do know cowboys, it'll make you smile.
What a fantastic cast! Kirk Douglas, in his favorite role. Gena Rowlands, Walter Matthau, Carroll O'Connor, and the ultimate bad guy, George Kennedy. Singing their praises is almost redundant, from other reviews you will read. There is not one bad actor in the entire cast.
A lot of you will probably think that this movie is very sad. It's not. At a time when anti-establishment feelings were beginning to surface, this movie depicts one cowboy, a horse named Whisky, and their attempt to find their fate. If the final scene brings a tear to your eye, this movie served it's purpose. Keep a box of tissue nearby, but remember, this is not a sad movie, it's celebration of the cowboy spirit!
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| Rating | | | Date | April 12, 2005 | | Summary | To Whom It May Concern | Content
| This is getting ridiculous. They constantly put out crap like Knight Rider, but can't get it together for a classic film like "Lonely Are The Brave". Kirk Douglas himself, called this his proudest acheivement and I'd hate to argue with that.
This movie has a great script, vivid characterizations and wonderful cinematography. Black and white was such a wonderful medium and when well done, evidenced more grit and realism than any technocolor film could impart.
I hate to beg, but PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE..... let's get this great film out on widescreen DVD! |
| Rating | | | Date | April 03, 2005 | | Summary | matthau fans-start here | Content
| i sought out this early matthau movie from a quote in carol matthaus' memoir "among the porcupines", in which, she offers "to this day i think it is the best movie he's ever been in" and, that, he was just 'superb'.
walter has a secondary role in this mainly kirk douglas film-kirk playing the fugitive cowboy and walter the in-pursuit sheriff.
i think what carol liked so much is probably one of the first examples of his trademark easygoing wisecracking and loveable characters,who,at the same time, is trying to track down this jail breaking cowboy on the run.
he's all business but with a soft center.
overall, a very good movie. my only question is the ending where kirk pushes his horse out onto the busy roadway amidst traffic and pouring rain where he meets his end. and i thought, why didn't kirk wait a while till there was less traffic and after the rain has stopped making for a much safer crossing?
but i'm probably over-thinking. it's a very good movie.
best movie walters' ever been in?
i might have to disagree with that. i guess this movie attempts to make a 'statement' and carol likes that walter was a part of it whereas his other movies are not really 'statement' movies?
open for discussion |
| Rating | | | Date | December 04, 2004 | | Summary | better than Brave New World | Content
| It's a grand film and I only found about it through AMC. It's reminiscent of Brave New World but much simpler due to the time when it was produced. And to be honest I feel that it's simpler example might help to explain to many people the lessons that 1984 and Brave New World have to say. Plus it's loaded with tons of excellent actors. It's highly plot driven and yet has time for 3 minute monologues.
At times it's Ramboesque but with only 2 shots fired and noone killed it is certainly in it's own league. |
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