The Hudsucker Proxy
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DVD details
Actor: Charles Durning, Jennifer Jason Leigh, John Mahoney, Paul Newman, Tim RobbinsBrand: ROBBINS,TIM
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround; English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround; French (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, HiFi Sound, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 111 minutes
Published: 1999-05-01
DVD Release Date: 1999-05-18
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Warner Home Video
DVD Reviews of The Hudsucker Proxy
DVD Review: You know, for kids...
Summary: 5 Stars
It is a shame that tightly envisioned, edited, unique, totally enjoyable and entertaining from beginning to end, but generally unknown to the masses, "Hollywood" films like this, are so rare and special, and seemingly come along so infrequently. But this is surely one of them.
The Coen Brothers (Ethan and Joel) have been writing, directing, and producing movies for some time, and are still at it, and while countless fans have their particular favorites among many of the brothers' efforts (including "Raising Arizona," "The Big Lebowski," "Fargo," and "Burn After Reading," etc.), this effort remains my personal favorite of theirs, and may always be so.
While this returned little real box-office popularity/profit or awards during first release or afterwards, it remains my most cherished Coen Brother's film and one of my all-time great movies in particular. For it blends hokey and comically noirish, but thoroughly wonderful, old-time movie genre elements and characters brilliantly with non-obtrusive but totally effective camera techniques, and does so in a way that few, if any other attempts at the same, have ever come close to.
Mixing various cinematic forms and styles, this harkens back to earlier, similar movies, but with a much sharper wit and wisdom, and an insider, knowing wink of an eye, imparted upon nearly every scene and shot. And while other films which have dealt with the same general ideas, are many and noteworthy, this one remains special. Strangely enough, the film's general political/social views, continue to be relevant to this day, if in a more serious mode in real-life as compared to this broad, fictional satire.
Generally, the movie deals with hapless, harmless, good-intentioned but naive and innocent everyman "Norville Barnes" (Tim Robbins) and how he rises from bottom to top to bottom to top in the crazy world of corporate politics. This at times seems a re-working of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" but on weird steroids, albeit with a lot of relaxing, enlightening, insightful and eventually hilarious deep puffs on a chill pipe to even things out. The end results are simply genius, shot to shot, scene to scene, with little if no filler at all. In fact, few films I've ever seen, are as truly "tight" as this, among all genres. There are really no wasted shots or scenes, and the film moves along towards its end much quicker than the appreciative viewer wants it to, all of which only adds to the absolute enjoyment.
Norville rises to the head cheese of the company/corporation he is hired by within a fluke, with many flukes, twists and turns to follow, only to see it all crash down upon him at one point. But his initial, humble employment (and "idea" - for kids, you know), is only the beginning of many rises and falls within the corporate environment of "Hudsucker," a Wall-Street behemoth of the late 50's, whose fortunes rise and fall many times within the same movie. If there ever was a film which still, many years later, directly relates to generally true themes from times of yore, to present day (and the seeming bizarre if not comedic economic troubles from today's headlines), it is this. In fact, as time passes, this movie becomes ever more relevant, and while most of it is done in exaggerated, almost cartoonish styles, the Coen's inimitable touches of basic "common knowledge" truths beneath the whole are always very present.
Paul Newman and Jennifer Jason Leigh are fantastic in supporting roles, the former as the truly "bad guy" corporate swine on auto-pilot, and the latter as a totally delightful, dead-on, old movie, fast-talking and cynical Katherine Hepburn-ish newspaper reporter. Leigh's persona is that of a materialistic, opportunistic, fast talking "career-gal," but which hides an eventually revealed heart of gold and love for Norville, the wet-behind-the-ears "schmoe" who she initially sets out to destroy to further her own aspirations.
There are so many twists and turns and exquisitely detailed moments within this one movie, that I think almost any review does the film injustice, which makes me almost hesitant to try. But if you are at all a fan of older but truly inventive and original movies, especially the frenetic black and white "screwball comedies" of days gone by, and have a general insight into the way mega-corporations really work (as I think I do), I promise you will love this and find much value in nearly every scene and shot. And find new pleasures in every repeated viewing (as I do).
This is the Coen Brother's finest release, in my opinion, and that is saying a lot considering their historic and growing, substantial body of work. There are so many great, timeless themes here which are generally relevant and entertaining, that it's hard for me to imagine any general movie buff/fan who will not eat this up as filmic candy, if they have not already done so. There are also many other minor roles and characters, played by some familiar faces, which only add to the experience of watching this true masterpiece, and at times, the non-comedic elements (the drama and the romance) fill and enhance any possible gaps.
This is a first class winner, with a really wonderful musical score to boot, and from beginning to end, has definitely earned its way onto my short list of DVD's to own someday. It is a work which is filled from start to finish with enchanting. mirthful but moving, meticulously edited curious joys, one after another, and continuously compelling twists and turns along the way.
This movie is essentially, "you know, for kids...," my personally most memorable quote (and idea) from the film. In other words, this nonstop, entertaining romp is for decent, unselfish, idealistic, romantic kids of all ages, not yet spoiled or corrupted by the Ayn-Randish, pessimistic, immoral nightmare which corporate, capitalist Wall-Street America has been for far too long. And which sadly, according to the headlines these days, apparently still is.
A film I cannot recommend highly enough...
Description of The Hudsucker Proxy
A clerk (Robbins) is promoted to company president as part of a stock manipulation scheme, but the clerk has an idea that will ruin everything if he gets the chance.Genre: Feature Film-Comedy
Rating: PG
Release Date: 7-JUN-2005
Media Type: DVD
The Coen brothers (Raising Arizona, Fargo) have become the most consistently original filmmakers in the land. In a salute/reworking of the fast-talking comedies of the '40s, we follow Norville Barnes (Tim Robbins) and his amazing rise to the top. But he's only a puppet for the evil Sidney J. Mussburger (Paul Newman), who wants the company for himself. The Coens' design is the real star, and their first big-budget film will stimulate movie fans. The story weakens in the middle, but you will find very few films that move with this much imagination. As a Kate Hepburn hybrid, Jennifer Jason Leigh is wonderful in an almost unplayable role. The less you know about the film, the better it plays, so just think of it as How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying mixed with Brazil and every journalistic drama made before 1960. Cowritten by Sam Raimi. --Doug Thomas
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