Hud
by Martin Ritt
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DVD details
Actor: Brandon De Wilde, Melvyn Douglas, Patricia Neal, Paul Newman, Whit BissellDirector: Martin Ritt
Brand: NEWMAN,PAUL
Cinematographer: James Wong Howe
Producer: Martin Ritt
Editor: Frank Bracht
Producer: Irving Ravetch
Writer: Irving Ravetch
Writer: Harriet Frank Jr.
Writer: Larry McMurtry
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; French (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Format: Anamorphic, Black & White, Closed-captioned, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 112 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-12-02
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Paramount Pictures
DVD Reviews of Hud
DVD Review: One of the most fascinating character studies of all time...
Summary: 5 Stars
Quite possibly one of my all time favorite movies ever, `Hud' is an extraordinary example of how subtlety can be so overwhelmingly powerful. Using the swagger of its stars, `Hud' immortalizes itself as one of the strongest character studies I've ever had the pleasure of watching. Sadly, all too many individuals don't see `Hud' for what it was intended to be. They view Hud Bannon as a sort of anti-hero; a villain to be adored and or idolized when in reality he is a despicable and selfish human being not worth our adoration. We watch the film waiting for the good in Hud to shine through, but it's not there, and no matter how much we want to take his side and defend him we can't; or at least we shouldn't.
That is the beauty of `Hud', for when taken properly it is a magnificent depiction of human morality at its lowest.
Not many films make the most morally reprehensible their focal points, but `Hud' is certainly all about Hud Bannon. Working on his father's ranch, Hud has a feeling of being owed by everyone around him. He views the ranch as his personal investment, something to reap from once his father dies. He lives his life the way he wants to, violently and immorally, starting brawls and courting married women. He drinks like a fish and this leads to emotionally scarring outbursts between Hud and his father. All the while Hud's nephew Lonnie is soaking in the very essence of Hud, trying to decide if he is a man to admire or judge.
The audience is in the very same predicament as Lonnie, trying to decide just who this man really is, and how we should feel about him.
Caught in the middle of this battle of testosterone is the beautiful and sincere Alma Brown, Homer Bannon's (Hud's father) housekeeper. She witnesses the interactions between Hud, Homer and Lonnie and she also sees the affect that Hud has on the entire household. She watches Homer struggle to find the light within his son and she watches Lonnie come into his own manhood, battling the ways of Hud that are manifest within himself. She loves Homer, Lonnie and Hud, but she is a much more balanced person than the rest of them. She is not shut off to Hud as Homer seems to be, and she is not blinded by admiration as Lonnie seems to be; and she is no where near as self concerned as Hud seems to be. She is the films moral compass, and the most engaging and emotionally beautiful character in the bunch.
The performances within `Hud' are marvelously full, delving deep into these characters and delivering truly astonishing pieces of work. Melvyn Douglas won the Oscar for his portrayal of Homer. His obvious disappointment with his son is tragic, and Douglas makes his disappointment its own character, breathing life into that emotion beautifully. Even more impressive though is Brandon De Wilde who plays Lonnie. He gives Lonnie this adolescent naivity without ever making him appear stupid. He struggles with his view of Hud, but it is portrayed in a very honest and believable fashion. Paul Newman is quickly becoming one of my all time favorite actors ever. It's sad to me that it took his death to wake me up to his career (I had only seen two of his films before his death, and since then I've seen ten) but with every tragedy comes beauty, and if his passing has inspired others to research his career then he will be able to live on and continue to enrich the lives of others. His portrayal of Hud may very well be one of my favorite performances of his. He understands his characters vileness and is able to portray it without losing his natural charm, a charm needed to make the struggle over intentions believable and engaging.
As great as the men are, the film belongs to Patricia Neal, who also won the Oscar. As Alma Brown she is a complete and utter revelation. She wears her emotional responses so well that one cannot help but adopt her view of things, relating with her and agreeing with her every step of the way.
I don't think that I would be too presumptuous to say that it appears that Ang Lee may have been inspired by Martin Ritt's direction when filming `Brokeback Mountain'. Now the two films are no where near one another when you consider subject matter, but the films are constructed very similarly. The use of the score, both of which are acoustically blessed, is a sharp similarity; but the way Lee caressed the screen with each rich depiction of character is very reminiscent of Ritt's powerful work here. Both films are based in the south, and both films embrace the culture brilliantly. Add to that the fact that both films contain conflicting moral dilemmas and you have two very strong yet comparable bodies of work. I know that some may not see where I'm getting at, but watch the two films back to back and see for yourself.
In the end I highly, highly recommend this film, for it is a brilliant masterpiece of cinema and definitely one of the finest ever made.
Description of Hud
Newman plays a man at odds with his father, tradition and himself. His father is an old-line cattle rancher and Newman is the son whose only interests are fighting, drinking, hot-rodding and womanizing.Genre: Feature Film-Drama
Rating: NR
Release Date: 2-DEC-2003
Media Type: DVD
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