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willab
Reviews
The Brink's Job (1978)
Worth The Fare
I've been trying to pick up a VHS of this flick for 2 years and finally won it on an auction. It was on AMC a few years back and I caught about 30 minutes of it. I was so intrigued that I started to look for a chance to buy it.
I thoroughly enjoyed this film, a great cast with a young Peter Falk leading the way. Peter Boyle was realistic in his portrayal of the money launderer. Used VHS tapes are out there and although this robbery occurred in the 50's there is enough suspense and a ton of surprises for you. Sometimes a true story beats the best fiction a writer can come up with.
The Proud Ones (1956)
Fine Actors, good cinematography, what's missing?
As a fan of the Western films for 67 years I was excited to see Robert Ryan and Walter Brennan listed in the credits as I watched the beginning of this DVD. I have no quarrel with the cinematography (beautiful) or many of the main actors in this film. My problem stems from the direction, or misdirection of the characters in this stale tale of the old west.
The scenery and the color is beautiful and the gunfight in the barn is exciting but one of my favorite character actors, Walter Brennan is completely misused in this screenplay. How many sub par westerns have been saved by the crackly twang of his dialog? The storyline is an old one but a good one. However, the pregnant pauses as if the characters don't know what their next line is are very disconcerting and probably a directorial problem. In addition, Virginia Mayo, a fine and beautiful actress disappears for quite a long time in the film.
A young Jeffrey Hunter adds to the suspense in the beginning and you are led to expect much more confrontation between him and Ryan than you finally get.