Where and why...

A Face in the Crowd (1957)

★★★★★★★★★☆

SPOILER ALERT

A Face in the Crowd (1957) – 9/10

Director: Elia Kazan Cast: Andy Griffith, Patricia Neal, Walter Matthau, Anthony Franciosa

Very different movie. It starts differently too, in prison. And the sheriff can release someone so easily. Those old years are always interesting to watch.

I am watching it for Walter Matthau, despite his side role, by the way, but everyone gives great performances. It is also interesting to see a time when television was still new and not yet everywhere.

He marries, then comes back and can speak to her again.

He is really like the first influencer, long before the digital age.

Walter is a desperate, almost platonic lover.

I could not get one line at first. Marcia says, “I created a face in the crowd.” Now I think she means she turned an ordinary unknown man into a famous public figure. She created his image and gave him that power.

I also wondered how power poisoned him so fast. At first he was helping a homeless woman, but later fame and influence completely changed him.

In the end, he did not kill himself. It was possible.

And we can see the atmosphere of those years, like the many Black waiters and similar social details.

Andy Griffith gives a great performance. I remember him from some other movies, but I could not find which ones.

AFaceInTheCrowd #EliaKazan #WalterMatthau #AndyGriffith #ClassicCinema #DramaFilm #1950sCinema

Bigger Than Life (1956)

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

SPOILER ALERT

Bigger Than Life (1956) – 7/10

Director: Nicholas Ray Cast: James Mason, Barbara Rush, Walter Matthau

I think I forgot the movie a little, because I wrote that review months ago irregularly, and now after months I am editing it and putting it online.

I watched it for Walter Matthau, but it seems he is not the main character here.

70 years ago, everything was different. They gathered at home for card games and social evenings. That old domestic life felt interesting to watch.

The story about pills also feels important. Maybe it reflects a true fear from that time: medicine being used without enough long-term testing, or people trusting new drugs too quickly.

The film is about cortisone treatment and how medicine, family pressure, masculinity, and mental breakdown connect. For 1956, this was a very bold subject.

BiggerThanLife #NicholasRay #JamesMason #WalterMatthau #1950sCinema #DramaFilm

Charley Varrick (1973)

★★★★★★★★☆☆

SPOILER ALERT

Charley Varrick (1973) – 8/10

Director: Don Siegel Cast: Walter Matthau, Joe Don Baker, Andrew Robinson

After watching Matthau’s older movies, now I searched more and found this one. This is my first after the older Grumpy movies. Really great acting.

That mafia being alone — I could not get how people were so scared of him. But his presence was enough. He felt like death coming slowly. Maybe because of the mob behind him.

And why they rushed to get the passport, I did not fully get it at first. They needed it because after stealing mafia money, escape becomes the only option. And nowhere is safe if the mob realizes it.

I could not get why Charley said “you wanted it” to the dead kid. He did not want to be killed, he was just greedy. But maybe because of him they hurried to get the passport and everything got worse.

Ending was clever. Respect.

CharleyVarrick #WalterMatthau #DonSiegel #CrimeThriller #1970sCinema #NeoNoir

Grumpier Old Men (1995)

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

SPOILER ALERT

Grumpier Old Men (1995) – 7/10

Director: Howard Deutch Cast: Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Ann-Margret, Sophia Loren, Burgess Meredith

First movie was okay, so I said let’s watch the second. Again they hunt a fish, give pain, but then release it. Not good.

There should maybe have been a third movie, but they did not continue. Maybe because too much time passed, but they will be remembered as this duo, like other great duos.

It is okay, a sweet movie to have fun with. Sad to see the father dead.

The ending was clever. Respect. But he shouted before the explosion :)

GrumpierOldMen #JackLemmon #WalterMatthau #SophiaLoren #ComedyFilm #1990sCinema