ON THE WATERFRONT: Takeaways

“If there is a better performance by a man in the history of film in America, I don’t know what it is…What was extraordinary about his performance, I feel, is the contrast of the tough-guy front and the extreme delicacy and gentle cast of his behavior. What other actor, when his brother draws a pistol to force him to do something shameful, would put his hand on the gun and push it away with the gentleness of a caress? Who else could read `Oh, Charley!’ in a tone of reproach that is so loving and so melancholy and suggests the terrific depth of pain?” -Elia Kazan in his autobiography, A Life

See movies on the big screen.

See movies on the big screen.

See movies on the big screen.

Every chance you get…See movies on the big screen.

I recently took my son Truman to see one of my all-time favorite movies on the big screen. (Thank you American Cinematheque for providing this opportunity. It’s a great organization and mission. Support them.). It was his first time seeing it and though I’ve watched it dozens of times and own the 4k/Blu-Ray, it was my first time seeing it in a movie theater. Here are some takeaways from that experience:

Leonard Bernstein’s score…Phenomenal! It’s propulsive and adds so much.

The subtleties of Brando’s acting…Behavior and small gestures that convey everything. Like picking up the glove or zipping/unzipping his jacket or putting his hands in his coat or rubbing his chin, etc….These moments are even more powerful and evocative on the big screen.

Eva Marie Saint is amazing….She goes toe to toe with Brando and more than holds her own throughout. The budding romance scenes they have together are as good as any ever made. And to think, this was her film debut…Wow.

A first rate ensemble…The supporting players headlined by Rod Steiger and Karl Malden and Lee J. Cobb are at the top of their game. Everyone is real and awesome. Credit to Kazan for casting and getting such rich and layered performances from the entire cast.

It’s funny!…There are a lot more funny lines than you would think. Myself and the audience laughed out loud several times.

It’s very moving…I was emotional throughout.

Truman’s reaction after it was over and the credits rolled (I wasn’t sure what he’d think of a seventy year old black and white film)…

“That was peak. Five stars on Letterbox’d.”

P.S. – Read Roger Ebert’s original review here. Or some of the great Criterion essays here.