RELEASED IN 1981 and written & directed by Warren Beatty, "Reds" stars Beatty as real-life radical American journalist and socialist, John "Jack" Reed, who becomes involved with the Russian revolution, and hopes to bring its spirit and idealism to America. In the meantime he romances "progressive" writer Louise Bryant (Diane Keaton), who also goes to Russia. Jack Nicholson plays the wrench in their romantic wheels, Eugene O'Neill. Maureen Stapleton & Gene Hackman are also on hand.
Throughout the movie there are interjections from aged people who actually knew John Reed, Louise Bryant and Eugene O'Neill. I found this an interesting touch.
The first hour and twenty minutes take place in the states during WWI, starting in Portland, Oregon, and then switching to the East Coast when the couple decides to move there (New York City & Provincetown, Massachusetts). Only then do events start to perk-up when they head to France and then Russia. Until that point there's a lot of relationship shenanigans between the three (Jack, Louise & Gene) and endless talk about communism, socialist ideals and workers' rights.
The tone of the drama is akin to a Robert Altman film; you can tell Beatty learned a thing or two from him with "McCabe & Mrs. Miller" (1971). The movie's certainly ambitious and well-acted. Those with interest in the period will find much to like here. Unfortunately, it's not all that compelling and it lacks the epic stature, nigh-surrealism and jaw-dropping cinematography of "Dr. Zhivago" (1965). Reed's a misguided character because his communistic ideals proved to be a nightmare for the Russian people. To the film's credit, this is effectively shown in the last act in a potent discussion between Reed and Emma (Stapleton) yet, even then, Reed didn't "get" it, which is typically the case with boneheaded libertines who insist on forcing their fatally flawed ideology on the rest of the populace.
While communism sounds good on paper, it just doesn't work in practice. It's a demotivating system that ensures that everyone's equally poor, except of course for the ruling state class, which essentially becomes communistic royalty. To all intents and purposes they are the reviled "bourgeoisie" and the common people are the "proletariat," both of which communism sought to eliminate in the first place, which makes communism hypocritical. Furthermore, communism leads to all kinds of suffering and corruption, like waiting in long lines or bribing doctors and sellers for services & merchandise, not to mention how the state itself becomes "god" and thus demands the 'worship' of the people. Sure, capitalism has its downside, but it's an all-around superior system, which is why people from communistic states flee to capitalistic countries and not vice versa.
The temperamental and non-traditional Louise Bryant has her points of interest, but ultimately she isn't a sympathetic character (for one thing, she's duplicitous). Not for a second do I believe that she bluntly said to Reed in the yard outside a lecture hall: "Jack, I want to see you with your pants down" (rolling my eyes).
THE MOVIE RUNS 195 minutes (3 hours, 15 minutes) and was shot in England, Finland, New York City, California, Spain and Sweden. ADDITIONAL WRITER: Trevor Griffiths.
GRADE: C
Throughout the movie there are interjections from aged people who actually knew John Reed, Louise Bryant and Eugene O'Neill. I found this an interesting touch.
The first hour and twenty minutes take place in the states during WWI, starting in Portland, Oregon, and then switching to the East Coast when the couple decides to move there (New York City & Provincetown, Massachusetts). Only then do events start to perk-up when they head to France and then Russia. Until that point there's a lot of relationship shenanigans between the three (Jack, Louise & Gene) and endless talk about communism, socialist ideals and workers' rights.
The tone of the drama is akin to a Robert Altman film; you can tell Beatty learned a thing or two from him with "McCabe & Mrs. Miller" (1971). The movie's certainly ambitious and well-acted. Those with interest in the period will find much to like here. Unfortunately, it's not all that compelling and it lacks the epic stature, nigh-surrealism and jaw-dropping cinematography of "Dr. Zhivago" (1965). Reed's a misguided character because his communistic ideals proved to be a nightmare for the Russian people. To the film's credit, this is effectively shown in the last act in a potent discussion between Reed and Emma (Stapleton) yet, even then, Reed didn't "get" it, which is typically the case with boneheaded libertines who insist on forcing their fatally flawed ideology on the rest of the populace.
While communism sounds good on paper, it just doesn't work in practice. It's a demotivating system that ensures that everyone's equally poor, except of course for the ruling state class, which essentially becomes communistic royalty. To all intents and purposes they are the reviled "bourgeoisie" and the common people are the "proletariat," both of which communism sought to eliminate in the first place, which makes communism hypocritical. Furthermore, communism leads to all kinds of suffering and corruption, like waiting in long lines or bribing doctors and sellers for services & merchandise, not to mention how the state itself becomes "god" and thus demands the 'worship' of the people. Sure, capitalism has its downside, but it's an all-around superior system, which is why people from communistic states flee to capitalistic countries and not vice versa.
The temperamental and non-traditional Louise Bryant has her points of interest, but ultimately she isn't a sympathetic character (for one thing, she's duplicitous). Not for a second do I believe that she bluntly said to Reed in the yard outside a lecture hall: "Jack, I want to see you with your pants down" (rolling my eyes).
THE MOVIE RUNS 195 minutes (3 hours, 15 minutes) and was shot in England, Finland, New York City, California, Spain and Sweden. ADDITIONAL WRITER: Trevor Griffiths.
GRADE: C