The Onion Field | | Cast : | John Savage, James Woods | | Director : | Harold Becker | | Studio : | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen | | Released Date : | January 01, 1979 | | DVD Released Date : | January 11, 2005 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), French (Subtitled), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), English (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | R (Restricted) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | December 27, 2004 | | Summary | Best Role ever for James Woods | Content
 | This movie is reminiscent of "In Cold Blood" because of the tragedy of it, and it's "duo" plot line, but is I think a much better rendition of the book, and Woods is outstanding in his role. You really get to where you like, but don't like this guy! You can see how he traps and sucks people in with his charm, but see his totally maniacal side as well. He really is a sick puppy in this!
It is a haunting movie that you will have scenes in your head for years, and certain lines will stay with you always if you are a true movie fan.
Ted Danson has a really good, if not brief (you'll see what I mean) part in the movie. It really is one that if you like this type of movie fare you will watch this one again and again on a Saturday afternoon curled up on the couch with the dog while your team is getting slaughtered on the gridiron!
One that I had to search out as part of my collection! A must see! |
| Rating | | | Date | November 17, 2004 | | Summary | A Family Movie | Content
| This is about my family Greg Powell is my adopted Uncle that I don't know and I am glad I watched the movie to learn more about him. I hope he served his time and got the help he needed. |
| Rating | | | Date | November 09, 2004 | | Summary | POWERFUL AND FITTING ADAPTATION | Content
| The studio brass finally got it right when they let Joseph Wambaugh write and supervise the production of his (then most) powerful non-fiction masterwork. THE ONION FIELD is one of 1979's best films and it's brutality, both socially and judicially, is stunning. Harold Becker was the right director for this labor of love, an "A lister" at the time would have screwed it up and the film's intensity would have been lost under the hype. The acting is the core of THE ONION FIELD: James Woods was robbed of an Oscar nod. John Savage plays his heart out as the tortured Carl Hettinger and Ronny Cox is solid as Pierce R. Brooks (Brooks later wrote OFFICER DOWN CODE 3, which is a staple in any police library). Christopher Lloyd has a small important role as The Jailhouse Lawyer. This was justice for Wambaugh after his studio war over THE CHOIRBOYS (1977). Put this one in the win column.
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| Rating | | | Date | August 17, 2004 | | Summary | A uneven sometimes slow movie, but it's still good | Content
| I just saw this for the first time last week. I can now say I saw it; it's actually good, but often slow in spots, and hard to follow here and there. It's based on a true story of a LAPD officer murdered in cold blood, and his partner becomes a basket case because he didn't kill the suspects right after, and it leads him to mental breakdown where he's kicked off the force for shoplifting, and finally attempts suicide. Both roles were played rather well by John Savage who was nearing the end of his career, and Ted Danson before he became the bartender at Cheers. Also equally well performed was James Woods in his debut role as the murder suspect. It starts out slow, and picks up the pace, but unfortunately the ending I found rather weak. Still worth giving a look. |
| Rating | | | Date | February 14, 2004 | | Summary | Enlightening Movie of a true crime story | Content
| The Onion Field is a true story by Joseph Wambaugh, a former policeman who knows of what he writes. The actors, especially James Woods actually looks like the killer he plays. Ted Danson is seen in his first major movie role, for only a short time, but an important character in the movie, which caused the LA Police Department to change it's rules about never "giving up your weapon" to anyone. It has a somewhat surprising ending, when you find out who is "remembering" the ordeal which is the basis of the theme of the movie, and how it affects his life. Joseph Wambaugh is at his best when he writes TRUE CRIME stories, such as this as well as "The Blooding", about the first time DNA was used to solve a case, which took place in England. He can hold you spell-bound. |
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