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Post by wmcclain on Nov 27, 2019 15:37:52 GMT
The Offence (1972), directed by Sidney Lumet. During interrogation, a policeman beats a suspect to death. In a non-linear presentation we get the whole wrenching story. It's intense and often hard to watch. We have a movie-myth that cops become calloused and inured to the horrors they see, but what if that is not so? Sean Connery, in one of his best performances, is a tough cop who has seen too much and can't get the images out of his mind. The hunt for a child molester has driven him over the edge and now he is unbalanced and dangerous. His wife asks him to talk to her about it. After he does she wishes he hadn't. It gets worse: he is sexually frustrated and has begun to envy the criminals he hates. When he finds the latest victim, an abused little girl, he rescues and comforts her. Objectively it's innocent and even heroic, but the postures and camera angles are suggestive. When the other police arrive and shine lights on him, it's as if he were caught in a violation. He looks guilty. Fine cast: Ian Bannen as the suspect, Trevor Howard as a police bigwig, and Vivien Merchant, last seen in Alfie (1966). MGM DVD-R. An Amazon exclusive? I don't know what the film looked like in the theater; the DVD is dark and of only fair quality. Later: A Kino Blu-ray appeared with a much better image, and I've used it for the thumbnails. No subtitles, and I miss them on this picture.
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Post by Prime etc. on Nov 27, 2019 16:37:02 GMT
Interesting film in the sense that you get to see Connery doing intense "against type" acting. Funny you say "sexually frustrated" as I remember his wife was no Bond Girl.
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Post by Stammerhead on Nov 27, 2019 17:52:41 GMT
Interesting film in the sense that you get to see Connery doing intense "against type" acting. Funny you say "sexually frustrated" as I remember his wife was no Bond Girl. Getting this film made was part of the deal behind Connery returning as Bond in Diamonds Are Forever so he still managed to get his girls.
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Post by Isapop on Nov 28, 2019 0:20:46 GMT
With it's initial first run at a theater in Manhattan, where I was lucky enough to see it, after only a week this dark and difficult film dropped from sight. It got no wide release in any suburban theaters, and just disappeared for years. Finally it showed up on Cinemax, one of the early cable pay-tv networks, and has some steady life on different cable channels.
A gripping portrait of psychological disintegration, and Connery's performance is just a knock-out. Director Sidney Lumet reunites Connery with Ian Bannen (together earlier in "The Hill"). And I wonder if that other Lumet favorite, Harry Andrews, had to turn down the role that fitted him perfectly, and that was given to Trevor Howard?
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biker1
Junior Member
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Post by biker1 on Nov 28, 2019 3:11:33 GMT
I remember thinking it bogged down midstream in an over cooked marital diversion, otherwise back at the station, uniquely harrowing proceedings. 6/10
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Post by Isapop on Nov 28, 2019 10:37:02 GMT
I remember thinking it bogged down midstream in an over cooked marital diversion, otherwise back at the station, uniquely harrowing proceedings. 6/10 Not a diversion, to my way of thinking. The glimpse into the detective's marriage is important in showing that his alienation is total. He can find no solace or salvation even with his wife.
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Post by Captain Spencer on Nov 28, 2019 15:11:35 GMT
I haven't seen this yet, but after reading your review I'm going to seek it out.
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Post by petrolino on Nov 28, 2019 20:47:29 GMT
Powerful filmmaking.
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biker1
Junior Member
@biker1
Posts: 1,804
Likes: 743
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Post by biker1 on Nov 28, 2019 21:11:33 GMT
I remember thinking it bogged down midstream in an over cooked marital diversion, otherwise back at the station, uniquely harrowing proceedings. 6/10 Not a diversion, to my way of thinking. The glimpse into the detective's marriage is important in showing that his alienation is total. He can find no solace or salvation even with his wife. yes, yes, I realise why the marital misery was there, it just seemed contrived and overwrought in an otherwise original screenplay.
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Post by hi224 on Dec 2, 2019 4:43:05 GMT
The Offence (1972), directed by Sidney Lumet. During interrogation, a policeman beats a suspect to death. In a non-linear presentation we get the whole wrenching story. It's intense and often hard to watch. We have a movie-myth that cops become calloused and inured to the horrors they see, but what if that is not so? Sean Connery, in one of his best performances, is a tough cop who has seen too much and can't get the images out of his mind. The hunt for a child molester has driven him over the edge and now he is unbalanced and dangerous. His wife asks him to talk to her about it. After he does she wishes he hadn't. It gets worse: he is sexually frustrated and has begun to envy the criminals he hates. When he finds the latest victim, an abused little girl, he rescues and comforts her. Objectively it's innocent and even heroic, but the postures and camera angles are suggestive. When the other police arrive and shine lights on him, it's as if he were caught in a violation. He looks guilty. Fine cast: Ian Bannen as the suspect, Trevor Howard as a police bigwig, and Vivien Merchant, last seen in Alfie (1966). MGM DVD-R. An Amazon exclusive? I don't know what the film looked like in the theater; the DVD is dark and of only fair quality. Later: A Kino Blu-ray appeared with a much better image, and I've used it for the thumbnails. No subtitles, and I miss them on this picture. should've lead to an oscar nom.
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Post by hitchcockthelegend on Apr 3, 2020 0:43:24 GMT
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Post by hi224 on Apr 3, 2020 15:17:47 GMT
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Post by fangirl1975 on Apr 4, 2020 0:53:39 GMT
I might seek this one out because Sean Connery's in it.
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Post by kijii on Apr 4, 2020 1:35:22 GMT
I really love this movie. What a surprise it was to me when I first saw it, last year, while going through my Sidney Lumet quest.
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