jimi99

I confess that I got through about 2 and a half hours before giving up on it. I just couldn't handle any more of that dialogue, so clunky and pretentious. Even the actors seemed to be aware of how stilted their lines were, and there were some moments where they just could not sell them and the acting became transparent. I'm not sure why this movie had to be 3.5 hours long except to emphasize its importance as an "epic." The pacing was sluggish and seemed to revel in fits and starts, to represent the central character's hopes and struggles. I'll assume the last hour provided some Important Statements about Architecture and/or the Immigrant Experience.

A great cast and great director Rossen do all they can to push the envelope of colonialism, interracial love, Caribbean politics, extramarital sex, all to good effect considering the times and drastic restrictions in Hollywood against such hot topics. Joan Fontaine and James Mason give their usual stellar performances in quite uncharacteristic roles, while Dandridge and Belafonte provide the Black perspective in fleshed-out characters. Both are involved with white romantic partners, in the case of Dandridge, one we fully root for, while Belafonte and Fontaine's romance is doomed to fail because of his commitment to being a civil rights leader, something that he certainly became in real life. A brave and mostly successful film. Oh yes, and the location shoot is quite spectacular.

The best thing about season two dropping is going back and watching season one over again. Rez Dogs is so unlike anything else "on TV" ever, so funny, poignant, provocative, with such engaging characters all down the cast. The four leads are just brilliant, so natural. And, needless to say, it says volumes about America.