CHUD.com Community › Forums › SPECIFIC FILMS › Films in Release or On Video › Marathon Man (1976)
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Marathon Man (1976)

post #1 of 11
11/20/08 at 3:39pm
Thread Starter 
Just watched this again last night. A couple of slow spots aside, I think it's a fine thriller. Great work from Dustin Hoffman and Roy Scheider... That chase scene is a great setpiece, Olivier is a terrific villain and you have solid supporting work from William Devane and Marthe Keller.

Has this film fallen by the wayside in recent years, when discussing great 70's cinema? I think it shows off Schlesinger's skill at handling a good thriller and the moments of sharp violence are truly shocking and effective. I also couldn't help but think a little of the Bourne films when watching that early fight scene between Scheider and that cool Asian assassin. It's a raw and convincing piece of work - very satisfying.

Discuss?
Reply
post #2 of 11
11/20/08 at 3:42pm
it goes without saying, but don't watch this movie right before you go to the dentist.

I haven't seen it in a while, but I remember it being a very good thriller with some strong acting from everyone involved. Olivier is chilling in this.
Reply
post #3 of 11
11/20/08 at 3:59pm
Is it safe?

Hoffman is awesome. He doesn't get enough credit for how good his performance is.

The anecdote turned out to be myth, but i love the story of upon hearing Hoffman was staying up all night to get into character, Olivier replied /paraphasing/ 'It's called acting for a reason, dear boy."

The dentist scene. The final confrontation with Olivier. This film is greatness.
Reply
post #4 of 11
11/21/08 at 1:36pm
Love the score to this flick. Shame it hasn't been released. It's great.

As has been said, Olivier is tops in this, as is Hoffman. Marc Lawrence and Richard Bright as Olivier's thugs are great too.
Reply
post #5 of 11
11/21/08 at 2:23pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rene (Mr.Eko) View Post
Love the score to this flick. Shame it hasn't been released. It's great.
Michael Small didn't really do great work most of the time and he will forever be associated with Jaws: The Revenge. But I think it's unfair that we can forgive Caine and even Mario Van Peebles, yet not him. You're right. It's a great score with chilling moments.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rene (Mr.Eko) View Post
As has been said, Olivier is tops in this, as is Hoffman. Marc Lawrence and Richard Bright as Olivier's thugs are great too.
And don't forget William Devane. That scene where he "rescues" Hoffman then begins to try and pull information out of him in the car, only to give up and yell "Shit!" is a great piece of acting. And he is the movie's true scumbag, a man with no code or scruples. Szell is sadistic and evil, yes, but true to himself from the beginning. Devane is just a fucking asshole. And he plays it very well. Very solid, understated work from an underrated character actor.
Reply
post #6 of 11
11/21/08 at 3:42pm
Scheider's small part is great. Love his death scene!

Also, appreciate Olivier going from playing the epitome of the outwardly smiling, aged evil nazi to playing the heroic Jewish nazi hunter in Boys From Brazil! (Facing off against an even unlikelier evil villain in Gregory Peck!)
Reply
post #7 of 11
11/21/08 at 3:51pm
Thread Starter 
There's a certain poignancy to Olivier's final moments in this film. When Hoffman has him at gunpoint... There is a sweet satisfaction to the vengeance aspect. But there is also something slightly pathetic to it all. I love William Goldman to death and the book is also really good. But they were right to change the ending. Having Hoffman just shoot him dead would have been too much. They went with a bit of a cliche, but it's more appropriate to the film.
Reply
post #8 of 11
8/31/10 at 1:47am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Erix View Post
There's a certain poignancy to Olivier's final moments in this film. When Hoffman has him at gunpoint... There is a sweet satisfaction to the vengeance aspect. But there is also something slightly pathetic to it all. I love William Goldman to death and the book is also really good. But they were right to change the ending. Having Hoffman just shoot him dead would have been too much. They went with a bit of a cliche, but it's more appropriate to the film.
I didn't know about the original ending. Knowing that now, I do like the one in the film better. Babe is demeaning Szell. Making him suffer like Szell did the Jews. He's stripping him down, making him feel ashamed. Degrading him. Even when Szell finally says no he still goes after the briefcase at all costs and tumbles down the stairs like a pathetic old man still clinging to some sort of hope and false reality.

I love when the old Jewish man says, "I know you." I've seen the movie once before years ago but seeing it again now I was like, "oh shit!" I got on the edge of my seat and thought, "it's go time now."

And, this is weird to say, but Hoffmans eye movements are great. Eyes are important for an actor and their the "windows to our soul" etc etc but theres two scenes in particular. The one where he is in the library watching the "French" girl he asks out and then the other part is when he sees the dentist tools on the table. His eyes there are like a "oh shit, what the fuck is going on?" kinda look. But it's his eyes that sell it. He doesn't say anything and there's a blank expression on his face and it's all in the eyes.

And I agree with the score. Chilling is what it is.

Scheider is pretty great too.

Great, great film.
Reply
post #9 of 11
8/31/10 at 2:13am
Yeah I watched it for the first time 2 years ago and came away impressed.

Its a very tight thriller.
Reply
post #10 of 11
8/31/10 at 3:07am
I'd read the book, and when the film came out, went with a friend who hadn't. He complained that I was telegraphing the dentist scene by practically hiding beneath my chair in anticipation.
Reply
post #11 of 11
8/31/10 at 8:24am
Perfect, gritty '70s thriller. Seems to me that I didn't know what the Holocaust was until after my dad and I watched this film and he explained it to me. "I know you...", such a chilling, sad line.

Marathon Man and The Boys From Brazil would make an interesting Olivier double feature. Thanks Fat Elvis.

Netflix starts streaming Marathon Man on October 1.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Films in Release or On Video
CHUD.com Community › Forums › SPECIFIC FILMS › Films in Release or On Video › Marathon Man (1976)