Well written in terms of dialogue but messy in terms of narrative structure. But who knows, perhaps Levinson made it like this to represent the tattered lives of the principle characters.
Despite the messy, at times off putting stucture, this film is a deep,well written film exploring the lives of some coming-to-age youths in late 1959. Each character is portrayed well but Mickey Rourke gives what is probably the best performance, as the best formed character of the film.
Written well with what I assume is an acurate portrayal of 1950's America, Barry Levinson carves a realistic story with all too human characters which are very easy to relate too (myself finding one) that will live on forever, even if the context of the time they are living in is soon forgotten. The dialogue is snappy and funny yet tagic too but not with deaths and crime; with emotions. Coming to terms with oneself, break ups, loving relationships, crumbling relationships, lasting friendships and rocky friendships. All made real and all made effective by Levinson's almost flawless script.
This is obviously a film that some people love and some people just don't, based on the reception of the people on here. However, it is one everyone should give a go and decide for themselves. I for one really connected with it.
My favourite film of all time since I was twelve! This is the film that got me into films in the first place and I am glad it was this one.
The film is an absoulute masterpiece and is the pinical of Nicholson's career and was the pinical of Kubrick's too.
Nicholson is Jack Torrence. He may not be what the book describes, but he is the character nonetheless. That is why I admire him as an ator because he transforms himself into the character he is playing in all his films like Chinatown, Easy Rider and One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest and this, his best film. How he didn't get an oscar nomination is beyond me. It is as big a travesty as by how much Psycho was snubbed at the cermony 20 years previously. Some say he "over-acted". I think he merely became his character which is what good actors do. Besides, his extravagent (not over acted) performance meant he gave a scary and realistic job as a psychopath.
Duvall is also good in the role of Wendy Torrence. Some say she over acts too but I really loved her in this film. How would you feel if your beloved husband had gone crazy and was going to kill you and your child? I think she shows the fear the chracter feels flawlessly and was perfectly cast.
Danny Lloyd is very good too. For a child actor, he really gave a performance without being too "Cutsey" and un realistic like several child actors are in films.
Scathman Crothers really blew me away too. He gives a fantastic performance, particularly in his scenes opposite Danny Lloyd, which made some perfectly placed emotional and touching scenes.
Kubrick directed this very well (Razzies are a bunch of shit for nominating him for Worst Director) and his unique work which contributed to the brilliant end result of this filmshould of never been doubted or shat upon by the reazzies and others who hated it when it opened.
He used some very good angles such as the looking up shot, which was also used in many of his previous films such as A Clockwork Orange Dr. Strangelove and Killers Kiss and added a good menacing effect to the film. Other angles which achieved this were his tracking shots which follows the characters as they move through the hotel. It really achived the effect of showing how isolated the hotel is among other effects achived by the use of this. I particularily like the direction of the "Give me the bat, Wendy" scene and how it moves from the point of view of Wendy and Jack as they move up the spiralling stairs.
The screenplay is good giving some of the best dialogue in cinema such as "I'll huff, and i'll puff, and i'll blow this door in" and "Give me the bat Wendy". The line "Here's Johnnnny!" which wasn't actually in the script is also a classic line. It is the most memorable, but it is not my favourite.
The whole plot is good too. Although haunted buildings had been done many times before, this put an original spin on it. It has some good character development, especially for Danny Torrence.
The pacing is good, also. For instance, the build up into Jack's anger is spread evenly throughout the film, from when the tension is just beggining to show to when Jack is a pure madman.
The use of eriee, ear piercing music really adds to the chills of the film and is used at all the right times. This has one of the best scores, if not the best, i've ever heard. Simple and without tune and very scary. It is very suited to the film.
This is a classic of the horror/thriller genre and should always be remembered as a classic which had so much effort put into it.
Psycho: the master of suspense at his best! Most people prefer Vertigo or Rear Window, but they aren't even in my top 100, although I do love them. This is his best with out a doubt.
I am appalled at the Oscars of 1960. Anthony Perkins, who gave the second best performance I have ever seen as Norman Bates (first being Nicholson in The Shining) was oscar worthy, but was never even nominated!! He was best when he acted nervous, and did little things like chew his gum faster and tap his fingers on the table. He managed the stutter, one of the hardest speech inpediments to act. He was the only actor who could have ever been Norman Bates.
Janet Leigh was nominated, which was a great move and Hitch was also nominated too. Both deserved to win but didn't.
The score is fantastic! The shower scene score is brillianht, yes, but so is the opening credits score, which I actually prefer; it suits it so well. Both pieces are memorable.
I love the ending so much. Both for the twist and the final few scenes. This is the definitive suspense thriller, with out a doubt a classic which has aged brilliantly.
Diner
R
The Shining
R
Psycho
R
