The gleam on viewers eyes when they see the names of Warren Beatty and Jack Nicholson together gets brighter than the moon. A proven fact if you had seen
them in the award winning epic "Reds" but what about this forgotten comedy directed by Mike Nichols and co-starring Stockard Channing? That gleam might fade away
depending on your demands judging by those talents alone. The final result shown in "The Fortune" proves exactly why the movie is so under the radar of most
film viewers and why Mr. Nichols disappeared from view until rise again in "Silkwood", eight years later. It's not a bad picture but it's not so great as it
could if considering the talents involved. But if only they had THE script to act along with...and that's the key issue here.
In the 1920s, due to the Mann Act,which forbid the crossing of married woman into another state, a pair of con artists (Beatty and Nicholson) travel all the way to Los Angeles along with a wealthy heir (Channing), where one of them pretends to be married with her while the other pretends to be her protective brother but the roles are reversed. Problem is when the fake husband (Nicholson) reveals an interest on the woman, and that sets the confusion on with the men fighting for her until they came up with a plan where they can get her money and get rid off her as well.
With a duo like this, a movie can capture the attention of any film buff out there, at the time of its release and even today. But it can only work if the script make them as real buddies rather than antagonistic ones for most of the time. Beatty uses of his usual exquisite humor to bring sobriety and seriousness to a stiff character who only bosses the crazy and sloppy Nicholson through most of the time. Had then put together as equals, in some way and variation of humor or danger the movie could have some brighter results. Instead, everything works through repetition and it almost dies when we get to the third act.
The real main charm of this picture comes from Stockard Channing in her film debut. Her sequences along with Jack are simply hilarious, when the guy tries to get her into bed, trying all the possible schemes possible. You know she's not that clueless and you know he's very wild so this interaction can only result in huge sparks when they're both testing other each other to see who's gonna win or who's gonna be conquered. The trio plane trip is also hilarious and quite unexpected how things turn out. Nicholson always delivers the nuttier he gets, but Beatty was just pure annoyance - he has some fine moments but overall a true comedian was needed here even if playing the serious guy.
Many wonder why it was so disastrous or so unknown to public. The script, mostly, and even direction I'm afraid hence why Mr. Nichols took some awful time to return making movies and even a comedy - he's good with that, as long as he has a perfect script that manages to put some serious notes. Truth is "The Fortune" was a studio with Warren Beatty who wanted to push "Shampoo" forward, which was a comedy that he had more personal control (yet directed by Hal Ashby). Insiders thought that movie would fail and this would profit - it got the other way around and with reasoning, "Shampoo" is the better movie.
"The Fortune" is quite alright but the less expectations you create with the talents united, the better experience you'll have. One can have fun with the movie. 6/10.
In the 1920s, due to the Mann Act,which forbid the crossing of married woman into another state, a pair of con artists (Beatty and Nicholson) travel all the way to Los Angeles along with a wealthy heir (Channing), where one of them pretends to be married with her while the other pretends to be her protective brother but the roles are reversed. Problem is when the fake husband (Nicholson) reveals an interest on the woman, and that sets the confusion on with the men fighting for her until they came up with a plan where they can get her money and get rid off her as well.
With a duo like this, a movie can capture the attention of any film buff out there, at the time of its release and even today. But it can only work if the script make them as real buddies rather than antagonistic ones for most of the time. Beatty uses of his usual exquisite humor to bring sobriety and seriousness to a stiff character who only bosses the crazy and sloppy Nicholson through most of the time. Had then put together as equals, in some way and variation of humor or danger the movie could have some brighter results. Instead, everything works through repetition and it almost dies when we get to the third act.
The real main charm of this picture comes from Stockard Channing in her film debut. Her sequences along with Jack are simply hilarious, when the guy tries to get her into bed, trying all the possible schemes possible. You know she's not that clueless and you know he's very wild so this interaction can only result in huge sparks when they're both testing other each other to see who's gonna win or who's gonna be conquered. The trio plane trip is also hilarious and quite unexpected how things turn out. Nicholson always delivers the nuttier he gets, but Beatty was just pure annoyance - he has some fine moments but overall a true comedian was needed here even if playing the serious guy.
Many wonder why it was so disastrous or so unknown to public. The script, mostly, and even direction I'm afraid hence why Mr. Nichols took some awful time to return making movies and even a comedy - he's good with that, as long as he has a perfect script that manages to put some serious notes. Truth is "The Fortune" was a studio with Warren Beatty who wanted to push "Shampoo" forward, which was a comedy that he had more personal control (yet directed by Hal Ashby). Insiders thought that movie would fail and this would profit - it got the other way around and with reasoning, "Shampoo" is the better movie.
"The Fortune" is quite alright but the less expectations you create with the talents united, the better experience you'll have. One can have fun with the movie. 6/10.