Seanc Roams Through The Classics

The last decade has been the most fruitful for me as a film fan. I have thoroughly enjoyed digging into different directors and eras of movies. Lately however, I have found myself hungering to go back to some of the standards. After all the greats became greats for a reason. This thread will be an attempt to keep myself committed over the next year or so to rewatching the big hitters of cinema. Hopefully some Mofos will join in or at least participate in some discussion along the way.



History: I watched this movie once just over a decade ago. I was actually pretty luke warm on it, which in hindsight is ludicrous. I don’t think I knew it was semi-autobiographical at the time, and I remembered it as the kid being from a much poorer family. A podcast I listen to has recently done a series on Truffaut that made me want to watch more of his films, and rewatch a few of course. I also didn’t know that this movie is part of a series, so I will be checking out the others, but won’t be posting about them here.

Acting: All the acting here is really good I thought. It’s a very stripped down, realistic style. Leaud as Antoine Doinel has to do the heavy lifting, of course, as he is in almost every single scene. Tough ask for such a young kid, but he is up to it. I wouldn’t argue with anyone who calls this the best child performance ever. Shout out to Albert Remy as the step-dad. I thought he brought a lot of levity to his scenes. The parents are both very good. The mother does an excellent job of going back and forth between caring for her son and complete selfishness.

Cinematography: Probably the star of the show here for me. From that opening as we sweep through Paris, complete with the Eiffel Tower looming in the background. I felt totally immersed in this world. The claustrophobia we feel in the classroom and the apartment juxtaposed with the freedom we feel when Antoine is in the wide open spaces of Paris, or even how big his friend’s apartment feels when he is away from his parents. Very well done. Excellently shot sequence in a police station as well. Where Antoine has to sleep in a holding cell with some other characters coming in and out.

Themes: I think one of the reasons I love auteurs so much is the way they strip their characters bare. I don’t have to agree with your world view. I don’t have to like your characters. Give me an honest portrayal of some broken humanity and I am going to be along for the ride. 400 Blows delivers here. Antoine is at times sympathetic, but also very selfish and careless. His parents and teachers don’t ever seem to take any time to listen to him, which really makes us understand his insatiable desire for freedom.

Favorite Scene: I am going to cheat here and go with two. I really love the scene where Antoine goes to a psychologist. We know from the previous scene that he intends to lie, but we can see that some honesty is seeping into his answers here as well. Brilliant decision to only show his face during the back and forth. When he tells the psychologist he lies because his parents never believe him when he tells the truth anyway, very good line. Then he tells a story of hearing his grandmother talk about how his mother didn’t want him and was talked out of having an abortion. Gut punch! The other scene of course is the ending, can’t talk about 400 Blows without mentioning it. Had to be the inspiration for Florida Project?

Final Thoughts: Glad I revisited this classic. It has its rightful place in the cannon of cinema. I think it is an absolutely brilliant film by Francois Truffaut. I hope it doesn’t take me ten years to watch it again.

__________________
Letterboxd

History: This was at least my third time watching David Lean’s classic. Although it never hits me exactly the way I want it to, I certainly respect many aspects of it. The first time I remember taking notice of it was when AFI released their first 100 film list in 1998. I made a point to try and go through that entire list. I don’t think I finished it at that time, but Bridge was one of the movies I watched.

Directing: Lean is a director I love more and more the further I get into movies. I have said around here many times that the very technical side of film making is lost on me, so I don’t know if I could pick Lean’s movies out of a lineup (not already knowing them of course). To me, he is very classical in that sense. I just have grown to love the patience he has in how his stories unfold. I also feel he has a sneaky sense of humor that had really endeared his films to me. Bridge is deftly handled. I think another director may have wanted to ramp up the action or hurry through Saito and Nicholson’s arc. Maybe not, but it feels that way to me. Lean and Guiness are the stars here in my opinion.

Acting: If it wasn’t for Guiness playing one of my favorite characters in the history of film this would certainly be my favorite performance of his, and if I am being completely honest it probably still is. I think he is fantastic as Colonel Nicholson. From the first moment he marches into camp his cocksure nature is present and never lets up. I also feel he brings some levity to the film at key times. Hayakawa may only be asked to play one note as Saito, but I think he plays that note very well. I enjoy his scenes with Guiness more than anything else in the film. Holden as Shears is the weak link for me. I just don’t enjoy this character very much, and whenever we leave the camp and spend time with him the movie loses steam for me.

Cinematography: Everything in the camp, and at the river are top notch. I feel the isolation of the environment. I “enjoy” spending time at these locations. The jungle portion is pretty wonky for me. It never feels realistic. The actors never feel sweaty or in any serious danger. Once we get to the finished bridge, I am swept up in the environment once again. The finale looks really spectacular.

Favorite Scene: The first time Saito pulls Nicholson from the hot box and tries to get him over to his way of thinking is absolutely priceless. Watching Saito extend an olive branch to Nicholson, only to have him smack it away is endlessly entertaining. Guiness is so good here, still looking exhausted but maintaining his composure enough to see through Saito’s motivations. It’s a really fantastic scene, and well acted by both men.

Final Thoughts: A film I want to love, but still lands in the realm of deep respect. There are five star aspects here for sure. The Nicholson and Saito arc being at the top of the list. Nicholson’s ambition to get his men to build a perfect bridge despite their plight and environment is entertaining to watch. Seeing how he out maneuvers Saito, watching Saito struggle with knowing that his objective has technically been completed, but he has been out smarted and outclassed by his enemy. It’s really well written and acted by all involved. The look of that bridge over the river at completion is really stunning, and a pretty cool achievement in its own right. I just still get tripped up with everything going on with Shears. I don’t enjoy spending time with him. I also feel the finale goes on a little too long and seems implausible. Just a few too many negatives for me to love this classic Lean.