452. Seconds

Seconds
1966
Directed by John Frankenheimer

I, once again, persuaded non list followers to watch a List movie with me (this time victimizing my parents) and they were, once again, weirded out and wished that they hadn't.  Kind of the like when a guy goes on a date with me...ouch, that was mean, me!

Arthur Hamilton is in the middle of a mid life crisis when he is approached by the Company.  The Company fakes people's deaths, then gives them a new face and identity to start their life over.  Hamilton decides "wait, who wouldn't want to look like Rock Hudson?" and goes along with it.  Then there is a weird scene with hippies and alcohol that is sure to give you trippy nightmares.

I am not a huge fan of Frankenheimer's psychedelic directing style, but that really is not what bothered me about this film.  The story simply was not sustainable for an entire movie, at least with the way it was handled in this film.  It would have been a great episode of the Twilight Zone; unfortunately, after the first forty five minutes, it lost its way significantly, and become a slight shit show.

Additionally, if you want to see great acting, a Rock Hudson movie isn't exactly the place to start.  Still, it had exciting moments and some good twists.

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

Panned by critics upon its release.

The director originally wanted Kirk Douglas or Laurence Olivier for the lead role, but ended up casting Hudson instead.  Frankenheimer went on to believe that Hudson was perfectly cast.

Trailer:

389. The Manchurian Candidate

The Manchurian Candidate
1962
Directed by John Frankenheimer

For some reason, I love movies that have freaky moms.  I find scary mothers more frightening than anything in the horror genre.  Probably why I still can't take a shower in a shower that has a curtain.  In any case, this was a great movie: chilling, exciting, and well acted.

This is the story of Raymond Shaw, who is brainwashed into becoming an assassin any time someone asks him to play solitaire.  We also get a great performance out of Sinatra as Captain Marco, Raymond's platoon commander that begins to suspect that something is seriously wrong with him.

I haven't seen a really good movie in awhile and now that I have I am having trouble organizing my thoughts.  Like I said, the acting is just fantastic: Angela Lansbury as Raymond's sociopathic mother is truly frightening.  This isn't meant to be a horror film, but I certainly got freaked out when Mrs. Shaw would come on the screen.  We also get great set design; even looking at the above picture you see that the whole film is kind of surrealist; it gives the impression that you aren't even safe in your own mind.

And, of course, there is a political message here as well as the right winged politicians who wildly accuse random people of communism in order to elevate themselves in politics are shown to be complete psychopaths.

A fantastic movie and I will definitely have to check out the remake.

RATING: *****

Interesting Facts:

The army doctor in this film was the first time a black actor was cast for a role that wasn't specifically written for a black person.

An incestuous relationship between Raymond and his mother is heavily implied.

Trailer: