Der große Santini

I could not stand to read Pat Conroy's book because it upset me so much. The critics who reviewed it said that Colonel Wilbur "Bull" Meechum is the man that you will hate to love but you will. Hogwash! I hated him from the very beginning. Bull Mecham was a monster just like Loren Singer was on JAG. He was a great Marine, but a rotten person, husband and father. I don't know if people realize this or not, but Pat Conroy based the character on his father. I have always wanted to write a book and thought it would be a fun experience, however I pity Pat Conroy. This man is one of our finest authors and a true master with the English language, but I'll bet he has never enjoyed writing any of his books because they deal with the pain of his life and growing up in an abusive family with a father who was much, much worse then Bull Mecham! Robert Duvall and Blythe Danner and Michael O'Keefe as Ben all give wonderful performances. O'Keefe was nominated for an Academy Award as best supporting actor for his fine work. I think it is unfair that people think of Danner only as Gwenyth Paltrow's mom because she is a great actress in her own right! I felt so sorry for Lillian and the terrible burden she had to bear with this rotten SON OF A BITCH!!!!Robert Duvall made Mecham a complex character. There were scenes where he was portrayed as caring about his kids. However, I want to tell you something that Pat Conroy wrote in his latest book A Losing Season. He said that when he wrote The Great Santini, he by no means told the truth about his father! Donald Conroy was a monster. He said that his father still haunts his every waking moment. In Fact when his mother finally divorced his father on the grounds of extreme cruelty, she gave the judge at trial a copy of her sons book and said that was how his father really was! I could not stand to watch this movie.

I have not seen this film in over 20 years, but having been in the Marines, it will always be burned in my memory. You may also have to be, or have been, a Marine to fully appreciate the film (although anyone that has lived under authoritarian rule must feel some sympathy for the situations presented).

Although the film may have been re-cut for video release, I remember Duvall's character as being a fully fleshed out dichotomy of a man who rebelled against authority when submission was called for (his practical jokes while performing military duties) and invoking authoritarianism when more compassion and understanding were called for (his family life).

This is what it was like to be a Marine: The Corps was your family and your family was just an inconvenient duty to be performed for society.

If the movie has been re-edited, I suggest you try to see the original theatrical release, if possible. I found it to be a thoughtful and powerful motion picture.

Duvall received a much deserved Oscar nomination as a Marine who runs his family like he runs his men... with vigor and power. He's a Patton without a war and Duvall plays it off beautifully. O'Keefe (also Oscar nominated) is fantastic as his son who's only wish is to please his father. There are many startling scenes in the picture, especially the basketball game where Duvall orders O'Keefe to put another player "on the floor" for obvious flagrant fouls. Duvall's Bull Meechum rules with a iron fist and screams at his son, "Put him down, or you don't come home tonight." The film is based on Pat Conroy's novel and also stars the always wonderful Danner, as Duvall's wife and Stan Shaw as a black man befriended by O'Keefe. Lewis John Carlino directs.

"The Great Santini" is a powerful, gut-wrenching film that manages to tell the tale of a powerful, abusive, often unlikeable hero named Bull Meecham (Duvall). . . and yet you care about what happens to Bull Meecham just the same. Meecham, a legendary pilot and naval hero, is at his best when faced with death -- but at his worst when faced with peacetime, and with his wife and children. Meecham is actually both sad and scary when left alone with his family; he's an abusive terror, almost trying to start a full-scale war in his own home just so he can feel, well, normal.

Duvall is nothing short of brilliant in this movie -- he was nominated for an Oscar, and, in my opinion, he should've won it hands down. Also amazing is Blythe Danner as Lillian, his put-upon wife. An amazing character study that isn't always fun -- in fact, sometimes it's downright harrowing -- but definitely a great story with some incredibly moving performances. A-

I've seen Robert Duvall in other movies. He is a quiet, wise, somewhat reverent man. Being a fan of his, I caught "The Great Santini" on TV. And I gotta tell you, his performance as Bull Meechum just blew the hell out of me! I never knew he could play a role as fierce, violent, and powerful as Bull Meechum! Although it's a film with little attention, it's Robert Duvall best film! It's his best performance. The conflict between the father and the son is strong enough to wildly shake our emotions! Duvall was nominated for Best Actor, and he should've won! It's a must see! I tried purchasing it, but since it's not in high demand, the store didn't have it. It's worth owning, and it's definitely worth watching! Put it on your list of films to see next!