Post by petrolino on Jan 21, 2018 3:08:46 GMT
'Reds' is a biopic of American journalist John Reed (Warren Beatty) who was born in Portland, Oregon on October 22, 1887 and died in Moscow, Russia on October 17, 1920 at the age of 32. Reed is one of only three Americans buried in the Kremlin Wall Necropolis, the others being Bill Haywood whose ashes were divided following cremation, and Communist Party USA founder Charles Ruthenberg who was also cremated.
This ambitious historical epic is co-scripted by director Warren Beatty and Mancunian polemicist Trevor Griffiths though other prominent writers are said to have taken stabs at the screenplay too, including Elaine May and Robert Towne. To add some perspective regarding the scale of the production, it's estimated that around 2.5 million feet of film was examined in the editing room by a team of 65 people led by Dede Allen and Craig McKay. Allen recalled Beatty tossing around the idea of a Reed biopic in the mid-1960s and this idea never left him. Beatty's from Richmond, Virginia where politics is said to be enshrined in every aspect of local history.
'Reds' has a fine performance from Beatty as John Reed. I think he's one of the great reactors in cinema. He never seems to dictate the tone of a scene, instead following where the scene takes him and I think he directs 'Reds' in a similar manner. Diane Keaton has the trickiest role as journalist Louise Bryant because her character changes a lot during the course of the picture. Louise learns to hold her own in political discourse, engage in intellectual sparring and draw valuable contributions from creative pools. It's not always easy for writers to engage with society as there are many who tend toward craving solitude, sometimes at the expense of gaining raw experience, being properly challenged or being provoked politically. Jack Nicholson leads a fine ensemble of character actors as playwright Eugene O'Neill.
'Reds' is beautifully composed throughout by director of photography Vittorio Storaro who uses soft light and natural colouring. Beatty learnt from directors like Arthur Penn, Robert Altman and Mike Nichols how to maintain a naturalistic tone while incorporating artistry into shot selections but he plays it pretty straight with 'Reds' which is all about the storytelling. 'Reds' is reasonably atmospheric and evocative of time and place, creating an idealised portrait of political turmoil in a world of flux, but also inviting real-life survivors from the period to act as witnesses. It's very long and a bit unwieldy but I like some of the film's basic elements. I also like that it promotes idealism, self-expansion and personal discovery in a positive way. The music is by Dave Grusin and Stephen Sondheim.
"So the real question is why do we have an economy where the poor have to pay so the rich won't lose money?"
Warren Beatty & Diane Keaton
This ambitious historical epic is co-scripted by director Warren Beatty and Mancunian polemicist Trevor Griffiths though other prominent writers are said to have taken stabs at the screenplay too, including Elaine May and Robert Towne. To add some perspective regarding the scale of the production, it's estimated that around 2.5 million feet of film was examined in the editing room by a team of 65 people led by Dede Allen and Craig McKay. Allen recalled Beatty tossing around the idea of a Reed biopic in the mid-1960s and this idea never left him. Beatty's from Richmond, Virginia where politics is said to be enshrined in every aspect of local history.
Diane Keaton & Warren Beatty in 'Reds'
'Reds' has a fine performance from Beatty as John Reed. I think he's one of the great reactors in cinema. He never seems to dictate the tone of a scene, instead following where the scene takes him and I think he directs 'Reds' in a similar manner. Diane Keaton has the trickiest role as journalist Louise Bryant because her character changes a lot during the course of the picture. Louise learns to hold her own in political discourse, engage in intellectual sparring and draw valuable contributions from creative pools. It's not always easy for writers to engage with society as there are many who tend toward craving solitude, sometimes at the expense of gaining raw experience, being properly challenged or being provoked politically. Jack Nicholson leads a fine ensemble of character actors as playwright Eugene O'Neill.
John Reed
Big Bill Haywood runs for the office of Governor of Colorado
Charles Ruthenberg in Cleveland, Ohio where he ran for Mayor and organised May Day marches
'A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall' - Bob Dylan
'Reds' is beautifully composed throughout by director of photography Vittorio Storaro who uses soft light and natural colouring. Beatty learnt from directors like Arthur Penn, Robert Altman and Mike Nichols how to maintain a naturalistic tone while incorporating artistry into shot selections but he plays it pretty straight with 'Reds' which is all about the storytelling. 'Reds' is reasonably atmospheric and evocative of time and place, creating an idealised portrait of political turmoil in a world of flux, but also inviting real-life survivors from the period to act as witnesses. It's very long and a bit unwieldy but I like some of the film's basic elements. I also like that it promotes idealism, self-expansion and personal discovery in a positive way. The music is by Dave Grusin and Stephen Sondheim.
