Beanbioca As Good As It Gets

StyleSk8r At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

Marva It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

Bob This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

clanciai Which is your favourite Anthony Quinn film? (100 today) My candidate would be this one, a thorough debunking of the whole boxing business, with noteworthy appearances of the young Cassius Clay, Mickey Rooney and Jackie Gleason as his managers, one human and the other one seemingly corrupt but in fact the only realist, and Julie Harris as his one female friend, while Anthony Quinn as the wreck of a finished and humiliated boxer is one of the strongest characterizations ever made on film in almost unbearably straightforward realism. Note in the beginning and opening scene, that you never see his face until he himself sees it in the mirror. Add to this a fantastic music score by Laurence Rosenthal. The Swedish boxing champion at the time Ingo Johansson wanted every Swede to see this film, but this is not only for boxers. It's a universal study in humiliation, and no one is spared, humiliation is a fact of life, and there is nothing more difficult to handle. The film mercilessly displays all the ingredients, like shame, guilt, treason, failure, hypocrisy and defeat, and the chalice is emptied to the last drop. Still, in all his humiliation, ruin and disgrace, Anthony Quinn's failure of a boxing character in the end still stands on the floor as some kind of a victor by accepting his self-humiliation. It's a grotesque tragedy but an impressing abyssal dive and fall into fathomless humanity with infinite richness in spite of its extreme confinement in the small ugly corrupt world of the gladiator sport of boxing.

jmillerdp With a title like "Requiem for a Heavyweight" you certainly aren't expecting an upbeat movie! But, here, there ends up being little point to watching the film. The film starts with the heavyweight of the title, Anthony Quinn, badly losing a fight. The fight doctor declares him unable to fight anymore, since he could lose sight in his left eye if he goes back in the ring.What follows is the expected downward spiral, instigated by the thoroughly unscrupulous manager played by Jackie Gleason. He's deep in debt to bookies and has no issue in using Quinn's fighter in any way he can to make a buck. He certainly plays a reprehensible character very well.I love black-and-white cinematography, and it is beautifully done here, on location in New York. Unfortunately, we get to see little of the city during the course of the movie, since the drama takes place almost entirely in interiors.The script is by Rod Serling, who always showed skill with various genres. The movie is staged well by Ralph Nelson, a veteran TV director, who helmed the original TV version of the story in 1956.The performances are excellent all around. It is amazing to see how beaten up Mickey Rooney looks at 42! His appearance definitely sells him as the worn-down "cut man" of the team. The make up is by Dick Smith, to me the greatest make up artist ever in film. He is most famous for creating Brando's "The Godfather," as well as doing make up effects, like in "The Exorcist." Here, he's billed as Richard Smith.Overall, an interesting movie for what it is. But, you can see all the beats coming before they happen.****** (6 Out of 10 Stars)

capone666 Requiem for a Heavyweight You can tell a boxer is over-the-hill when they come to the ring wearing their bathrobe.After getting knocked out by Cassius Clay, "Mountain" Rivera (Anthony Quinn) hangs up his gloves in hopes of landing a less violent gig.But when his manager's (Jackie Gleason) life is threatened by a bookie, Mountain must put his aspirations on hold, swallow his pride, and enter the wrestling ring.Despite his embarrassment in the theatrics of the sport, Mountain agrees to the match-up, much to the chagrin of his career counselor/ love interest (Julie Harris).Based on the teleplay by Twilight Zone's Rod Serling, this film adaptation of the scribe's sci-fi free script is altered for cinematic purposes, but the pathos of an archaic contender is still present, and is pure Rod Serling.The worst thing about being a retired boxer is that with your slurred speech everyone keeps enrolling you in A.A.Green Light vidiotreviews.blogspot.ca

wes-connors After seven grueling rounds with Muhammad Ali (as Cassius Clay), heavyweight boxer Anthony Quinn (as Louis "Mountain" Rivera) is knocked out. Told he with likely go blind if he fights again, due to optic nerve damage, Mr. Quinn must give up boxing. Displaying "punch drunk" behavior, Quinn is not exactly qualified to be anything other than a professional fighter. Pressured by gangsters, manager Jackie Gleason (as Maish Rennick) tries to get Quinn back in the ring, while trainer Mickey Rooney (as Army) encourages Quinn to try find another job. Thanks to kindly New York State employment worker Julie Harris (as Grace Miller), Quinn sets up an interview as summer camp counselor...The boxing profession takes another big hit, with this feature film version of writer Rod Serling's excellent 1956 "Playhouse 90" teleplay. Ironically, a couple of the profession's super-stars participate...This is essentially a four-person drama. All are re-cast from the original production, and all are outstanding. The "Film Daily" had Quinn finishing in the year's top five "Best Actor" performances, and Mr. Rooney was runner-up in the "Supporting Actor" category. Also award-worthy are Mr. Gleason and Ms. Harris. They are letter perfect in their supporting roles. TV director Ralph Nelson very successfully re-imagines the drama, enlarging the landscape while retaining intimacy. There is nothing new or original here, but that is only a minor deficiency. Interestingly, the "fight scenes" are memorable not for the fighting, but for the hideous spectators and the pathetic last impression of a boxer.******** Requiem for a Heavyweight (10/16/62) Ralph Nelson ~ Anthony Quinn, Jackie Gleason, Mickey Rooney, Julie Harris