Comments on: Bigger Than Life

By: Le_Samourai

Le_Samourai — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 12:43:43 +0000

Talk about a movie ahead of its time, Nicholas Ray 1956 Drama Tanked bigger than life upon release in the U.S. probably because of his dark, brooding and unwavering comments on suburban life (the film is partly based on Ray’s own childhood, so I m remembering correctly.), people at that time would not be told about the monster next door, and to a lesser extent today people do not always want not, but Ray’s film is so perfect in every way that we can not look away from the screen for a moment.Ray, as Fuller has unfortunately been more or less completely ignored in the United States during his life, but was immensely popular with kids Notebooks and I’m glad to see that in the last decade and his films, besides the popular Rebel without a cause, getting some serious reassessment .—- -Here are the details for those interested, regarding the test output: * New, restored high-definition digital transfer, with the mono soundtrack uncompressed Blu-ray edition * Audio Commentary comprising spokesman Geoff Andrew (the films of Nicholas Ray) * Profile of Nicholas Ray (1977), half a television interview of an hour with the Director * Satisfaction as New video of Bigger Than Life with the author Jonathan Lethem (Chronic Town) * New video interview with Susan Ray, widow of the director and editor of I Was Interrupted: Nicholas Ray on Making Movies * Theatrical trailer * Plus: a booklet with an essay by critic and videographer B. Kite —– Here’s what to hope they get their hands on Johnny Guitar. Rating: 5 / 5

By: wdanthemanw

wdanthemanw — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 10:21:49 +0000

***** 1956. Directed by Nicholas Ray. A teacher, suffering from a rare and painful, agrees to take cortisone, a new drug in the 50s, under medical supervision. Unfortunately, the patient modifies its requirements and is gradually becoming psychotic. This masterpiece has undoubtedly in 95 minutes all the major themes of Nicholas Ray: An idealistic hero who can not accept his destiny mean, bitter study of the American way of life and an intelligent use of new Technology Technicolor, with its new space available to administrators, to name a few. Some scenes, like the scenes with the mirrors, are already part of the history of film. You can now buy a DVD box 2 of bigger than life at Amazon. en with a perfect copy of the film and very interesting featurettes on the themes addressed by Nicholas Ray in the film. A DVD zone your library. Rating: 5 / 5

By: Byron Kolln

Byron Kolln — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 07:33:05 +0000

In bigger than life, director Nicholas Ray and producer / star James Mason explored the dark side of suburban life. James Mason delivers one of his most accomplished performances and subversive in this sadly neglected 1956 film GEM, the story of a man pushed to the brink of insanity, thank you to his abuse of a “miracle drug.” Ways sweet schoolteacher Ed Avery (James Mason) works hard to provide for his wife Lou (Barbara Rush) and her young son Richie (Christopher Olsen), working in secret after-hours as a telephone taxi. When Ed is struck by a debilitating and potentially fatal, doctors prescribed the wonder drug cortisone, and it seems to be the case. Ed feels more confident than he has in years, and loves to spoil the family with expensive trips to the store. But the dependence of Ed’s take a darker turn when he began taking the pill in larger quantities. Lou and Richie can only stand by helplessly as Ed lashes angrily hurling abuse and insults at his wife and son. The mood swings do worse as the weeks wear on, now when it is completely Ed finally cracks. . . I’m not trying to spoil all the important plot points. Bigger Than Life will surprise and shock you with its powerful subject, and the franchise has been portrayed you I am sure that the main reason why the movie flopped in 1956. This is indeed the reverse of “Father Knows Best.” Today, the film rings even more true that many families are in similar situations on a daily basis. James Mason and Barbara Rush is completely mesmerizing to watch here. Child actors of the 1950s are normally very high and “trained” on the screen, but the young Christopher Olsen is sad that Richie tormented performance rings absolutely true. Walter Matthau, Kipp Hamilton and Roland Winters are also very fine. Rating: 4 / 5

By: Byron Kolln

Byron Kolln — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 04:45:57 +0000