1957 Andy Griffith movieRating: 17/20
Plot: This is all about the rise of Larry "Lonesome" Rhodes, from a jailed hobo to a radio and television sensation to finally a political force to be reckoned with. But Lonesome's a human being and therefore flawed, and he finds that his new success isn't without its problems.
This movie's over fifty years old if my math is correct, but it hasn't lost a bit of its power. At the heart of things is a fireball of a performance by Andy Griffith, so full of energy that I feared he'd bust through my television screen and start spitting on me. He teeters on an edge, his performance always threatening to become just a bit too much, but it's a stunning 180 from the roles for which he's probably known. From the lovable bumpkin radio personality to the unhinged guy he eventually becomes, it's impressive stuff. Equally impressive is the work of the gorgeous Patricia Neal with a quiet and nuanced performance that works as a foil to Lonesome's character. And let's not forget Walter Matthau who gets some great thick lines to chew on here. This is very well written and directed, and both the writing and directing seem ahead of their time to me. Elia Kazan knows where to stick his camera, and he isn't afraid to experiment, most wonderfully in a Vitajex montage after Lonesome hypocritically becomes nothing more than a shill for the company. Long shots and close ups are used effectively to distance you from a lot of the public moments with Rhodes while drawing you in to feel the effect that his personal moments have on the characters who surround him. Kazan's also a director who knows exactly how much time to show baton twirling. Juicy and seductive baton twirling! Thematically timeless, this is a story that, if not always believable, is well told. One more note--after hearing the whistle-heavy song over the opening credits, I wondered if Griffith had something in his contract about how whistling needed to be involved in the theme songs to projects he was involved with. I always thought Griffith himself did the whistling, but I looked it up and it was some guy named Earl Hagen.
Great recommendation by Cory.
Add Andy Griffith to the list of good-guy actors that are great bad-asses. This film blew me away, mainly because the film and Griffith were unwilling to hold anything back. It is scathing in the way "Network" is, only much more personal. I liked the review, and thanks for checking it out. An 18. Replacement if you want would be the dark drama "Little Children". I should be watching "City of Lost Children" in a few days.
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