tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227751790693713235.post7233781347005587833..comments2024-03-22T14:48:09.697-04:00Comments on Dell on Movies: 2018 Blind Spot Series: Rebel Without a CauseDellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05634519605152190304noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227751790693713235.post-89981224841786089262018-10-04T07:16:21.318-04:002018-10-04T07:16:21.318-04:00I get that the movie is trying to push him as rebe...I get that the movie is trying to push him as rebelling against his parents, but it doesn't hold water when put into the larger context of the hyper-patriarchal 1950s. He wants his dad to stand up, be a man, and not take any guff from his woman. Add to that the whole deal about him being the one who wants to go to the police about the other situation and it sounds suspiciously like him wanting more conformity, not less. But yeah, I also saw him as, at least, gay-curious, or maybe even full-on repressed homosexual. Unfortunately, the film only poses the possibility but doesn't at all try going down that road.<br /><br />Yes, all-caps MELODRAMA is right. Despite my misgivings about this particular film, I do want to see more of Nick Ray's work.Dellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05634519605152190304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227751790693713235.post-22935766657439932422018-10-03T09:55:18.426-04:002018-10-03T09:55:18.426-04:00Yeah, there's a LOT about this movie that seem...Yeah, there's a LOT about this movie that seems ridiculous to modern eyes. I always saw Jim as rebelling against his parents and their whitebread conformity. Then again, I've always seen Jim as a little bit gay himself, which adds a whole other layer to his character. But Judy and Plato are FAR more interesting characters, and much easier to care and root for than Jim.<br /><br />What I love about this film - and most of Nick Ray's films - is how over the top it is. This is all-caps MELODRAMA, which is a perfect fit for a film about teenagers, who feel every little goddamn thing so intensely. Ray was never one to do things quietly (even In A Lonely Place, which is very much in a minor key, goes all-in on the darkness at the center of its characters), and this is one of his loudest movies. I usually find it entertaining, but sometimes find it annoying, so I get what you say about it, and enjoyed this review very much!Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11480863610135936930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227751790693713235.post-66533354459168596982018-09-28T18:39:22.079-04:002018-09-28T18:39:22.079-04:00In a Lonely Place is on the radar. And Gloria Grah...In a Lonely Place is on the radar. And Gloria Grahame sounds certifiably insane.Dellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05634519605152190304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227751790693713235.post-43787310046861213272018-09-27T10:04:59.836-04:002018-09-27T10:04:59.836-04:00Start with In a Lonely Place (its VERY dark) with ...Start with In a Lonely Place (its VERY dark) with Humphrey Bogart and Gloria Grahame. Or The Lusty Men, which I'm pretty sure I've mentioned before, with Robert Mitchum, Susan Hayward and Arthur Kennedy all giving award level performances. In my opinion they're Nicholas Ray's best films. <br /><br /><br />An interesting side note to In a Lonely Place. Ray and Gloria Grahame were married during the filming but estranged and she would only take his direction when delivered by an intermediary to whom she would respond and he would report back to the director with any messages she might have. They divorced not long after and following another failed marriage on her part she married Tony Ray, his son from his first marriage, effectively making Ray her father-in-law as well as her ex-husband and the son they had together her brother-in-law!!!joel65913https://www.blogger.com/profile/14526657073681774683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227751790693713235.post-20137525968510216532018-09-27T07:23:09.613-04:002018-09-27T07:23:09.613-04:00Totally agree, Wood and Mineo are very good.
I...Totally agree, Wood and Mineo are very good.<br /><br />I've not seen any of the director's other films, either. I'm willing to try. They can't be any worse.<br /><br />You're probably right about why he seems to be impersonating Brando, but it is what it is. I know Dean was considered the new hotness when burst onto the scene, but judging by this performance only, I can't see why. That said, I do want to see East of Eden just to see if he has something more than what he gave me here.Dellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05634519605152190304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227751790693713235.post-76341745366729465632018-09-26T00:14:26.569-04:002018-09-26T00:14:26.569-04:00I don't hate the film but I was never blown aw...I don't hate the film but I was never blown away by it and I do agree that Jim's problems are negligible next to Judy and especially Plato's-who is well on his way to being a danger to himself and others. And the best performances come from Natalie Wood and Sal Mineo essaying those two roles.<br /><br />The movie is so venerated and yet it's far from the best film anyone involved made. It's too bad this is director Ray's best known film since he made at least a half dozen-In a Lonely Place, The Lusty Men, Johnny Guitar, On Dangerous Ground, Bigger Than Life and Bitter Victory-that are superior. I guess the best that can be said for it is that her performance broke Natalie Wood out of the teen pack and helped her make the leap from child actress to adult performer that is so hard bridge for most.<br /><br />As far as James Dean his style was similar to Marlon Brando. I think he seems to be aping him now because Brando had so much more time to make an impact but at the time he was considered a sizzling new talent. It's so hard to judge on just three films, there was definitely potential there. That said I don't harbor any great love for Dean's work here much preferring what he accomplished in East of Eden the previous year.joel65913https://www.blogger.com/profile/14526657073681774683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227751790693713235.post-90143325485887942352018-09-25T21:19:59.267-04:002018-09-25T21:19:59.267-04:00Exactly. I read A Catcher in the Rye in high schoo...Exactly. I read A Catcher in the Rye in high school and loved it. I keep telling myself I'm going to read it again to see how I feel about it now. Kinda scared to. Have a feeling the magic will fade away.Dellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05634519605152190304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227751790693713235.post-15855118064110530642018-09-25T21:15:37.323-04:002018-09-25T21:15:37.323-04:00You are definitely not alone. After finally seeing...You are definitely not alone. After finally seeing Dean in action...I just don't get the appeal.Dellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05634519605152190304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227751790693713235.post-57640972916658492562018-09-25T21:11:21.749-04:002018-09-25T21:11:21.749-04:00What IS he rebelling against? That was my big ques...What IS he rebelling against? That was my big question, too. Arrrggghhh!<br /><br />No, I didn't notice Dennis Hopper. I fail.Dellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05634519605152190304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227751790693713235.post-74424059538098883172018-09-25T16:02:30.787-04:002018-09-25T16:02:30.787-04:00I get it completely.
I don't dislike Rebel wi...I get it completely.<br /><br />I don't dislike Rebel without a Cause, but I understand your position on it completely, because it's exactly how I feel about A Catcher in the Rye. I think this is one of those movies you need to see at the right point in your life. The Breakfast Club is another one like this--if you see it at the right age, it's formative. If you see it at the wrong age, you want to slap everyone involved until your hands are bloody.SJHoneywellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13550007053995112090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227751790693713235.post-91087395804430633332018-09-25T12:52:53.035-04:002018-09-25T12:52:53.035-04:00"and burst into uncontrollable laughter the m..."and burst into uncontrollable laughter the moment James Dean said "You're tearing me apart!" Honestly, I don't think Tommy Wiseau did it any worse" - YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS<br /><br />I hated this movie. Four years into the Blind Spot Series, and while I've had a few films I haven't liked, this remains the only one I straight up loathed. It's overrated and I shared all the same issues you did. I don't understand why people rave about James Dean. And after seeing more Brando performances, he was just trying to copy him.<br /><br />I'm so thankful I'm not the only one lol. Brittani Burnhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07975067259283007280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227751790693713235.post-395150949675674892018-09-25T00:16:10.089-04:002018-09-25T00:16:10.089-04:00Yeah, I can understand why people wouldn't lik...Yeah, I can understand why people wouldn't like it and I have no problem with that. I saw it as a melodrama while I will agree with you that Jim isn't really a rebel. What is he rebelling against? The real rebel was Plato because we all know that he's gay (people from the 50s would've been appalled). I still haven't seen <i>The Room</i> as I'm still not sure if I want to as I'm more interested in <i>The Disaster Artist</i>. BTW, did you notice Dennis Hopper as one of the bullies in that film?thevoid99https://www.blogger.com/profile/03055459287396592446noreply@blogger.com