A Face in the Crowd

Genre: comedy drama (in black and white)

With: Andy Griffith (Larry “Lonesome” Rhodes), Patricia Neal (Marcia Jeffries), Anthony Franciosa (Joey DePalma), Walter Matthau (Mel Miller), Lee Remick (Betty Lou Fleckum), Percy Waram (General Haynesworth), Paul McGrath (Macey), Rod Brasfield (Beanie), Marshall Neilan (Senator Worthington Fuller)

Director: Elia Kazan

Screenplay: Budd Schulberg

Release: 1957

Studio: Newtown Productions (An Elia Kazan Production)

Rating: -

MBiS score: 8.7/10

The Short Distance Between Humility and Megalomania

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Story-line: while doing a remote in an Arkansas town, reporter Marcia Jeffries stumbles upon a wanderer jailed for disorderly conduct and finds him so colourful that she wants him to do a morning show at her radio station.

Pluses: turbocharged performances by Andy Griffith (playing a funny and mysterious small-town boy) and Patricia Neal (the motivated Marcia), crucial support from Walter Matthau, Anthony Franciosa and cast, fast-paced and attentive direction (most evident in several complex scenes), a foresighted and rock-solid screenplay that brilliantly marries humour, drama and sarcasm, competent cinematography, an appropriate musical theme, quality editing and pertinent production values.

Minuses: none I can think of.

Comments: though it was produced when broadcast media and television were far less developed than today, A FACE IN THE CROWD awesomely illustrates their impact on daily life and the seedier aspects of entertainment stardom. It manages to be both hilarious and grave, its dramatic side presaging a more recent film about the media, Sidney Lumet’s much lauded NETWORK. As Lonesome would say, “I'm not just an entertainer. I'm an influence, a wielder of opinion, a force... a force!!!”   

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Son frère

English title: His Brother

Genre: psychological drama  

With: Éric Caravaca (Luc Forestier), Bruno Todeschini (his brother Thomas), Antoinette Moya (the mother), Fred Ulysse (the father), Nathalie Boutefeu (Claire), Sylvain Jacques (Vincent), Catherine Ferran (the Doctor), Robinson Stévenin (Manuel), Maurice Garrel (the old man on the beach)

Director: Patrice Chéreau

Screenplay: Patrice Chéreau and Anne-Louise Trividic (based on Philippe Besson’s novel)

Release: 2003

Studio: Arte France, Azor Films, Love Streams Productions et al.

Rating: -

MBiS score: 8.7/10

“Thomas is my brother but, unfortunately, not the brother I would have wanted.”

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Story-line: Luc and Thomas, who have been estranged for years, get back together when Luc learns that his brother is suffering from a rare illness.

Pluses: superb acting all around, a clinical, brutally realistic and psychologically astute screenplay that deals with issues head-on and irrespective of chronological order, masterful direction (singled out at the Berlin Film Festival), fitting production values and Marianne Faithfull’s haunting vocals.   

Minuses: none per se… but heed the warning below.

Comments: from what I’ve seen of him as a director, Patrice Chéreau (1944-2013) wasn’t one to sugar-coat his works and, true to form, SON FRÈRE unflinchingly illustrates the awkward but courageous reconciliation of two brothers in the midst of tragedy. And a genuine tragedy it is, considering that every moment, angle or frame speaks to Thomas’s predicament and predictable fate. As such, SON FRÈRE is human drama of the highest order… but be warned that it is also a very sad and challenging picture that you should avoid if you are feeling even slightly depressed.  

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