I'm a big admirer of much of Newman's later work. But this film is so corny, and Newman's performance is so insincere, it is hard to watch. He's still 'learning his craft' here, but relying too much on mannerisms that reek of falsehood. His performance never allows the audience to forget that he's acting. When compared with his controlled and nuanced work as the gay sports hero turned self hating lush in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, opposite the equally nuanced and naturalistic Elizabeth Taylor yearning for answers, and one can see how far he has progressed in just a few years. And compared to a great boxing tragedy like Rocco and His Brothers, where every actor is completely immersed in their character, and the naturalistic realism of the performances is genuinely heart breaking, one can see that this film is sub par.
Review of Somebody Up There Likes Me
