bscowler

If you're a fan of Denzel Washington or Nicole Kidman films, you just might want to run away from this film. On the other hand, if you enjoyed "Two-Lane Blacktop", "Five Easy Pieces", or "Vanishing Point", and have the intellectual capacity to enjoy 90 minutes of thought-provoking cinema - you might just enjoy this film. Once again, Vincent Gallo rewards the audience with truth in cinematography. He's driving cross-country to try and reclaim his one true love, with minor detours along the way. In any Hollywood road trip movie there are bound to be shots through the windshield of the family vehicle. The difference between Hollywood's road trip, and Vincent Gallo's trip across America is that Vincent leaves the bugs on the windshield! Show me one Hollywood film that does that. Along with the windshield realism we get to enjoy the emotional realism of a man who isn't ready to give up his dream of true love, yet who unsuccessfully attempts to replace it along the way. Much has been made of the sexual exploits in the film, but opposed to the ridiculous and unrealistic episodes of "Desperate Housewives", these scenes look and smell like truth.

I've read recent reviews of this film that condemn it for being "outdated" or not "relevant". Um, hello? This movie is is fifty-seven years old! As such, we are treated to typical 1940s Hollywood stereotypes and acting methods, not to mention references to the recently completed war. Yet, even within the pitfalls of the studio system, this film shines as a great example of film noir.

Director Jules Dassin is brilliant with light, and sets the example for the French "new wave" of cinema. Lighting Burt Lancaster from the side, or from underneath, makes him and the other actors look almost surreal.

Most of the dialogue is "clipped" and preposterous, but films from this era often suffer from this same problem. Yet "Brute Force" retains its original power simply by virtue of the dynamite performances, the stirring score, and the gritty techniques of Dassin.

I had to smile during the scene where Hume Cronyn's character turns up the Wagner on his hi-fi so the guards outside his door won't hear the inmate he's about to beat scream. This was mimicked during David Lynch's ground-breaking TV series "Twin Peaks" when a character turned up his radio before he beat his wife. Of course beating people isn't funny, but seeing obvious references in cinema is always a kick.

I highly recommend "Brute Force" to anyone who appreciates the art of film, great directing, and fine performances.