1. IT’S ABOUT TIME. Sheesh. Reds is one of my favorite movies of all time and I have had to struggle through these past 25 years – watching it on battered old VHS tapes whenever I want to see it. Seriously. IT’S ABOUT TIME. Yay!! I can’t wait to own it on DVD.
2. I am so excited to go see it in the theatre next week during its limited re-release. Like: my only experience with this movie has been RENTING it … because it also rarely is played on television – so … it’s just one of those hidden treasures. One of my ongoing obsessions. I bought it on VHS – but you know, that gets a bit old – and the quality is rather fuzzy after so many years of re-watching. I did not see it in its original release – I was too young to be interested in such a thing – but I saw it soon thereafter, can’t remember how – maybe it was on TV? – can’t remember – maybe it was one of those inappropriate movies I saw when I was babysitting. Too young to really get it, but discerning enough to know: “Uhm. I LIKE THIS.” I was captivated by the film, and have never ever – in 25 years – lost my affection and admiration for it.
One of the posts I have in my head that I have always wanted to write (I have an ongoing list) is why I think Jack Nicholson in his 10 minutes on screen (it’s some absurdly small amount of time) not only does his best work – but his most mature work – and he shows a side of Nicholson never seen before or since. It is breathtaking. And it’s breathtaking not because it’s cathartic – or loud – or crazy – or histrionic. The scene I’m talking about is breathtaking in its quiet, its stillness. “If you were mine, I wouldn’t share you with anybody or anything. It’d be just you and me. We’d be the center of it all. I know it would feel a lot more like love than being left alone with your work.” And her response to it, the close-up on her face … I can’t get enough of that entire scene – but I’ll write up an essay on it when the damn movie finally comes out on DVD and I can do a frame by frame thing about it. Acting don’t get any better than what Nicholson does in those 2 minutes of screen time.
Welcome to the 21st century, Reds!
I love the Village East theatre – maybe I’ll go see it there. It’ll only be in the theatres for a week, so I’ve got to JUMP on this opportunity. Allison: wanna come with??
I saw it in the theater when it came out. I loved all the crotchety old coots talking about the Revolution.
I haven’t seen it since, and I may put it in the netflix queue because it will be interesting to see it now after the USSR collapsed.
Yeah, the interview sections are just amazing. Henry Miller, Rebecca West … all these people who are kinda idols of mine now!! Great idea to include them. The movie would not be the same without it.
I love it when Henry Miller says, “Look. Everyone was doing just as much fucking back then as they’re doing now.”
Oh – and I’m just excited to see it on the big screen. I’ve seen the movie a gazillion times but always on my rickety little televisions. It seems kinda made for the big screen, so I’m psyched. :)
One of my main memories from seeing it was my butt falling asleep! Three+ hours in an awful seat in a beat-up old theater was too much for me back then!
Also – very interesting – Beatty has John Reed’s last words be “I want to go home” which always fascinated me. It’s complex, and yet also simple. He means it. He’s wants to go home. But still – It’s not what you expect. Like the entire movie.
This is great news. I saw it in a theater during its initial run, and probably a time or two on television since then. Don’t think I’ve ever rented it, though the years do get a little murky at this distance. A while back I went looking for the DVD and was shocked to discover there wasn’t one. My memory is of a subtle, compassionate film that plays more like a character-driven indie piece than a vast historical epic.
Can’t wait to see it again…
Mike – yeah, I went looking for it on DVD too and was like: How can this be?? This was a monster Oscar-winning ground-breaking movie … where is it??? You can get Weekend at Bernie’s 2 but not Reds??
heh heh
I’ll do a big post about it once I purchase it and watch it again. One of my all-time faves.
Dearest: I remember seeing it in a huge theater on St Stephen’s Green in 1982. I had spent the morning and early afternoon in the National Library, and decided to see Reds in the late afternnon before returning to my room near Eccles St [remember?]. In any case, there were two other people in the theater, and as it held [at least] 3,000 seats it was an eerie feeling. Great movie. love, dad
Dad – I love that story – I’d never heard it before! How cool!! And yes, the room on Eccles St. Classic.
i saw it at the Avon.. a million years ago…loved it…informed my movie taste i think…jsut watched it again this summer on vhs..was also shocked that it wasnt on DVD…i love this movie..Diane Keaton…sooo good…i swear that their big fight scene in his apartment was a real fight betweemn them(a couple at the time)..her anger seems so direct and specific…such good acting.
Mitchell – so much of the movie feels real. Almost documentary style. The montage of the Greenwich Village parties, and the dancing … and Keaton sitting on the outskirts at some dinner, and she keeps trying to say, “I write …” Beatty is awesome – completely believeable.
I also love – totally random shot – of Diane Keaton tramping through Poland or wherever the hell she is – and there’s a sudden random shot of her in a snowy field, staring at a stampeding herd of reindeer – and she looks frightened, like she’s not sure if they will trample her or not. And – nothing is digitized. It appears to really be happening, no CGI reindeer. She’s really there.
fave line…Warren Beatty to maureen stapleton as Emma Goldman…”I’ll walk you home” ..she says(off camera btw)…”Why??…im not gonna hurt anyone”..i swear she won the Oscar for this off camera remark.
On another note of patently absurd but finally redressed exclusion from the DVD format, I just discovered that High Anxiety has been released.
“I’ll let you wear my underwear”…haha..i love Cloris Leachman
Finally!
Now I’m still waiting for Sybil – it was supposed to happen in April, I think – but … wait, let me check. I think it was delayed.
Just checked Amazon and I’m wrong – it DID come out. 2 discs – with interviews with both Sally and Joanne. Must get it!!
Mitchell – how about when Stapleton and Keaton run into each other in Russia … and Stapleton says to her (and it kills her to say it): “I never thanked you for that scarf.”
Dude – I have tears in my eyes now just remembering that moment.
I think “Reds” may have been the last movie I saw that had an intermission.
An injustice rectified, at long last. Now, maybe someone will finally get around to putting “Prince of the City” on DVD.
Jeff – you’re kidding, prince of the city isn’t on DVD?
Crazy.
Another thing that is not yet on DVD is the TV series 30something. Some people hated it, some loved it (I, er, loved it) – but it certainly was a huge hit – and it should definitely be released on DVD.
What are some other things you all have found that are NOT on DVD??
I’m not sure you remember my “Future Pleasures List,” but this is one of those movies. This just might be the right moment to finally see it. There are people in my life who find this particular quirk of mine befuddling, but think of the excitement I feel right now, and the viewing enjoyment that awaits. I quit reading the comments after your thoughts on Jack Nicholson’s performance. I didn’t want to spoil any surprises, but just those comments sent a buzz through me. I can’t wait to see that scene.
China Beach is not on DVD. The rights to the songs are too expensive.
And that’s a shame, because I loved me some Boonie.
Lisa – are you serious??? That is a shame – that was a really good show.
I think the pilot is out on DVD, but not the whole series.
I have little patience for the whole Vietnam-is-the-gash-on-our-nation’s-soul mindset, so I try to stay away from movies and shows set in that period, but I loved China Beach. D used to watch it when it ran on The History Channel, and I got sucked in by the love story between Boonie and KC — and Dodger and McMurphy. I wish I had taped the show.
And Marg Helgenberger is just really good. She had what I call a “10 minute Oscar” in Erin Brockovich. Amazing!!
And I taped almost ALL of the 30something episodes – because they re-ran them, in sequence, on Lifetime – for one blissful summer. They ran every night at 11:30 pm – so Mitchell and I would have this ritualistic date where we would watch, and I would tape it – editing out the commercials. I still have all those tapes – but they’re already kinda beat up – the quality is going downhill fast.
DBW – Meant to respond: I certainly DO remember your future pleasures list – I remember being surprised that you had not seen Reds, merely because of the little I know about your taste – and your affection for Altman (Nashville, especially) and other huge sprawling films from the late 70s, early 80s.
I’m excited to hear your response. It’s exciting as well because – you feel like (in the same you you feel when you read John Reed’s book) you are experiencing the revolution at the ground-level.
At times it’s not even clear what’s happening. Which is how it must have felt at the time. The splitting of the CP in the United States, the in-fighting, etc. My background in Russian history helped me to go, “Oh. That’s Zinoviev.” “Oh. This is when the hard-liners took over. Oh.” Etc.
But you still get the sense of events happening at that very moment which is, inevitably, what always interests me.
And Jack Nicholson as Eugene O’Neill … 10 minutes screen time. But he looms so large.
I’m excited to hear what you think.