c_price Reviews

The Fear of God: 25 Years of 'The Exorcist' (1998 TV Movie)

The best film documentary I've ever seen...

[10/10 · 24 August 2002]

'Fear of God' is a brilliant documentary. It was wonderful to see such a broad sweep of cast and crew contribute their insights on this infamous film, and it is a MUST for fans of The Exorcist. Brilliantly edited, it was at times funny at others quite shocking (when it originally aired on British TV, it was the first time footage such as the Spider Walk had been seen in 25 years.)

I count myself lucky to have seen all 3 edits of the documentary. The first, the British TV showing, was the best of the three, and with an excellent, if somewhat odd contribution from Mercedes McCambridge. Ironically, she was cut out of the other 2 versions, rather as she was cut out of the actual film credits. The second version I saw was on the VHS release - which had been expanded in parts - but the third, on the DVD, was ultimately the worst cut of a what was still a good documentary. I don't understand why writer Mark Kermode was cut out and imagine he was quite insulted - especially after reading his well researched book to accompany the programme. His absence makes the DVD version seem more disjointed, though some interviews in it are extended.

All in all, an excellent watch for any film fan - and funny to see the difference between pragmatic commentators like von Sydow and Friedkin as opposed to McCambridge and Burstyn - who still seem a little shaken by the whole experience!

10/10

Minority Report (2002)

Minority Report and Max von Sydow (SPOILERS)

[10/10 · 20 July 2002]

Right, I make no secret of being a huge Max von Sydow fan. He is, quite simply, the greatest actor on the planet. From ‘Minority Report's first appearance in his filmography I have checked this and other sites nearly daily to monitor its production. I instantly went out and got Philip K Dick's book and quickly identified the character of Leopold Kaplan in it as the one Max would be playing in the movie. In a sense I was right. The equivalent in the film is Lamar Burgess. But let's get this straight; the film differs substantially from the book, giving a completely different emphasis to von Sydow's character especially.

Firstly, any von Sydow fan worth their salt would be doing summersaults that Max has this BIG a role in this BIG a movie. Hoorah! But some people misunderstand his performance. Just because he doesn't take part in high-speed chases or engage in lengthy emotional dialogues doesn't mean he turns in a 'dull' or ‘over-familiar' performance, as one reviewer put it. Max always gives of his best and here is no exception. Notice that Burgess has relatively little plot-relevant dialogue as Spielberg is obviously far more interested in the face of this great actor, often allowing the camera to rest on Burgess' silent emotions. One great movie writer said that `if there is such a thing as a thinking face, the Max von Sydow has that,' and Steven Spielberg uses it brilliantly.

Undoubtedly Max's best spoken lines are when he shoots Witwer (Colin Farrell), which he delivers with ice-cold precision: `Shhh. Listen. Do you know what I hear?…' Having seen the movie several times, this is one of the times the audience REALLY jumps from its seat. But it comes as no surprise to a true fan of von Sydow – we have seen shades of this bad character in ‘Needful Things' (1993) – where Max plays the Devil and in ‘Three Days of the Condor' (1975) where he plays a suave assassin wonderfully. This need not, however, mean we expect him to be a baddie the minute he's on screen, as I've heard some suggest.

Burgess is initially established as a good character, a father-figure to John (Cruise) – strongly reminiscent of Max's bit-part in ‘Judge Dredd', as Sly's mentor. The audience might be led to believe that Max has a fleeting cameo – as the majority of necessarily spoiler free reviews suggest – so it is a shock to discover his significance in the plot.

In short, even as a huge fan of the man, I believe Max von Sydow was brilliantly cast in this brilliant film. Everyone was fantastic; Cruise has finally won my respect, I'll be watching out for whatever Morton and Farrell do next and I'll definitely be exploring the back catalogue of Lois Smith who was exquisite as Dr Iris Hindeman.

Max won't get his overdue Oscar for ‘Minority Report', but I hope Spielberg has shown that he loses none of his magic in a bigger role in a big film than in the smaller American parts he has filled of late. I especially hope this film makes his Swedish countrymen-directors realise what a magnificent commodity they have, so that he can be offered the parts he so richly deserves, there too.

Sydow and Spielberg: 10/10

The Ultimate Warrior (1975)

Not that bad...

[7/10 · 11 July 2002]

This relatively obscure film is, it has to be said, under-rated. There's the usual fine performance from Max von Sydow as the 'Baron' while an old-looking Yul Brynner does well as Carson, the Ultimate Warrior.

The future looks bleak. In 2012 New York is a city devastated, with rival gangs living in communes. By appearance alone, you might be forgiven for thinking that this is a western - with von Sydow, particularly, looking like he's going to burst into a saloon bar, guns blazing. He plays the leader of one of these communes, desperate to secure a better life for his pregnant daughter Melinda (Miles) and enlists Brynner to this end.

Clouse manages to build up the tension nicely as Brynner & Miles race along the derelict New York subway to get to a fabled island, chased by a gang of nasties. The end, however, is abrupt, to say the least and you may feel cheated as about ten minutes before the end the movie seems actually quite good.

As I said before, this is an obscure film that will have a definite novelty value for fans of Sydow and Brynner. Viewers today will see the irony in the opening sequence of a supposedly devastated NY, with the Twin Towers promenantly still standing in the background.

7/10

Stigmata (1999)

under-rated - superb imagery, if not original

[7/10 · 24 July 2000]

Before I start - i liked the film, it was good (excuse my lack of vocabulary but it describes the film well, i could hardly say it was nice, well-executed/great would be lying), i may give a seemingly scathing review but it is not representative of my feelings, it's just the way it came out. Go watch it.

Expecting another mindless exorcist style horror flick that should be interesting to watch, if only because the critics panned it, i was pleasantly surprised to find an entertaining, quasi-intelligent spiritual romp. I must point out that it was as much fun to watch for the blatant allusions to other films of a similar nature, the director is a thief and is hardly apt at his craft. Don't get me wrong, i enjoyed it although it was naff at some points, eg. her dehydrated demonic face. What's wrong, fix the drips Pat - I'm sure they annoyed you too. The acting I felt was reasonably good, apart from Jonathan Pryce, an actor who is worthy of Sunset Beach ( you know that bloody awful yet addictive soap). It has a carrying plot that was churned out by the very machine that creates every other predictable plot - i must insist it was entertaining. Brave but stupid way of attacking the hypocrisy of the Church. To use the conventional system of rating I give three stars out of five.

The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965)

Good film, great Jesus

[24 July 2000]

An often under-rated attempt at the life of Christ, George Stevens' modestly titled epic was long, beautifully photographed and more than a little deferential to our saviour but it managed to keep my interest. Most of the film's critics believe the incessant cameos ruin it - though I think the brash, mainly American contingent make quite an accurate portrayal of humanity opposite serene Swede Max von Sydow. And it is to Him the film belongs. His first english-language film & one he admits isn't a masterpiece is notable for a performance from a man who played Jesus as a man and not as a God. Whatever, he was so good he almost converted this hardened atheist.