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On the Waterfront review

Posted : 6 years, 8 months ago on 17 July 2017 02:05

If I have to pick just one scene is Malden praying in the whole/hell; vertical stuff os ascension after descending to the social hell. The sky remains the roof with the pigeons.


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A great classic

Posted : 9 years, 8 months ago on 15 July 2014 01:39

Even though Marlon Brando’s career has always been rather inconsistent, I have always been a huge fan of the guy and since this flick is considered as one of his classics, I was quite eager to check it out. Man, at the time, he was really on fire and gave one of his best performances, arguably one of the best performances ever given by an actor. Personally, I still prefer ‘A Streetcar named Desire’ but this flick is definitely not far behind. Anyway, 3 years after making this seminal classic, Elia Kazan was working again with Marlon Brando and the end-result was once again quite impressive. Basically, contrary to most of the movies produced by Hollywood at the time and still nowadays, the main character was not some kind of almighty hero but an average man who was deeply flawed. However, even though the guy was not a real hero, he still showed some dignity but it didn’t mean that the whole thing would end up with an happy ending and the grim tone remained from the beginning until the end. To conclude, it completely deserves its reputation, it is a great classic and it is definitely worth a look, especially if you are interested in Marlon Brando’s work.


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On the Waterfront review

Posted : 13 years, 9 months ago on 10 June 2010 08:43

My first viewing of this masterpiece. Acted to perfection by every damn cast member. From the second the film started I was hooked, fully engrossed in the story. Marlon Brando is amazing as Terry Malloy, the former boxer, determined to put an end to the bullying and murder at the waterfront and along the way falls in love with Eide (brilliantly portrayed by Eva Marie Saint), a young woman whose brother was killed by the ruthless Johnny Friendly (Lee J. Cobb). The story is absolutely enthralling.
Incredible.

5/5


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Waterfront refuses to lose and comes out a winner.

Posted : 14 years, 4 months ago on 6 November 2009 10:54

''You don't understand. I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am, let's face it. It was you, Charley.''


An ex-prize fighter turned longshoreman struggles to stand up to his corrupt union bosses.

Marlon Brando: Terry Malloy

Karl Malden: Father Barry

Lee J. Cobb: Johnny Friendly

Rod Steiger: Charley 'the Gent' Malloy

On The Waterfront tells the captivating story of Terry Malloy previously an Ex-Fighter and now currently doing errands for Johnny Friendly. The Gangster-esque turbulent trouble that follows, we the viewers are treated to, begin when Terry leads an interfering yet charitable and good worker to his demise on a roof by some of Johnny's men.

Waterfront then proceeds to introduce characters and an unlikely romance blossoming out of the impending strife. When Terry meets Edie Doyle you can feel the chemistry there between them but also the revelations that lie, lurking under the surface about her brother who happens to be the worker who died.
The complications are apparent and Waterfront does not hide this in any way.
Terry's guilt is plain to see although really it isn't all his fault. What's fascinating to behold is the evolution of his character, the change or turn if you will, which manifests as his redemption. What we find is that Terry at heart is a good soul and that shines ever so brightly amongst the darkness that is the Waterfront.

Marlon Brando as Terry justly won Best Actor for his performance in Waterfront in 1954. To comprehend what that means you really should witness this pivotal man at work and this film, absorb yourself and bask in it's glory.
Eva Marie Saint as Edie Doyle gives a connection of immense magnitude with Marlon who deserves credit again for her, as mentioned before, chemistry.
Lee J. Cobb as Johnny Friendly plays a good lead Mobster and a fitting villain. Another Vintage Actor from a fave film of mine 12 Angry Men.
Rod Steiger as Charley the Gent manages to play the crooked brother with flying colours.
Karl Malden as Father Barry sees whats happening to the people around him, sees the corruption and helps Terry see it too. Wonderful to behold as he is jeered by his fellows.

Directed by Elia Kazan and written by Budd Schulberg, you instantly know you've struck gold. A drama that haunts, that electrifies and leaves you in awe.

The harshness and hardship of the Waterfront is wonderfully realised. The taint of the Mob has infected and submerged the dock, not to mention it's denizens, as Terry begins to see this and stand up against it, this is what makes great men great. Without a doubt, Waterfront is what makes a film great, like it's hero Terry, it refuses to be beaten down and comes out triumphant.

A timeless masterpiece.


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Gripping drama.

Posted : 15 years, 11 months ago on 28 April 2008 05:42

"Hey, you wanna hear my philosophy of life? Do it to him before he does it to you."


On the Waterfront is a classic film that tells a remarkable tale of one man's struggle with his conscience and the union bosses that he works for.

The film is brutal, gripping, hard-hitting and categorically astonishing. It's just such a monumental shame that this film (along with a majority of classics) is so criminally overlooked during the time of modern cinema.

Marlon Brando, in one of his early performances, is an ex-boxer named Terry Malloy. Terry now works at the docks for a group of corrupt union bosses. But when a worker attempts to tell the authorities of the corruption that is occurring at the docks, the bosses send a clear message and have him eliminated. The dead man's sister Edie (Saint) is determined to find her brother's killer. When Terry and Edie strike up a relationship, Terry realises that he can no longer turn a blind eye to the corruption at his work-place that caused the untimely murder. Thus Terry must question where his loyalties lie, and has to make a decision about whether to stand up and testify against his corrupt bosses.

On the Waterfront is a gripping, groundbreaking masterpiece. It takes an uncompromising look its subject matter without holding back on the violence.

Marlon Brando is exceptional as Terry. He looks so young and dashing, yet every line he delivers is so powerful. I could barely recognise Brando due to him being so youthful. Eva Marie Saint, in her starring debut, is so potent and beatific. The chemistry between Brando and Saint feels so natural and real. And all the rest of the supporting cast add to the genuine feel of the whole experience.

The film's pacing is slow, and it requires heavy patience, but the performances from the cast are just so mesmerising. The scene in the back of the taxi is still one of the most moving and most powerful scenes in cinema history. The scene would not have been as good without the aid of such great character portrayals from all those in the cast.

The cinematography is another immensely brilliant aspect here. The use of grainy black and white makes it feel even more authentic. The great story is complimented by the remarkable direction of Elia Kazan. He won an Oscar for such inspirational directing. The music is used meagrely, but it is always loaded with so much power.

On the Waterfront is an astoundingly brilliant production and a marvellous movie. The film is so gripping and so compelling, with drama that keeps one engaged for the film's duration. Over 50 years on and the film has not lost any of its original impact. Highly recommended for those with enough patience. Winner of 8 Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Writing and Best Art Direction.



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