tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407391624985829089.post6418943342687305983..comments2024-03-28T16:52:10.619-04:00Comments on Radiator Heaven: FranticJ.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11823190634186509982noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407391624985829089.post-84684420550269952382010-10-14T16:05:41.341-04:002010-10-14T16:05:41.341-04:00Adam Zanzie:
Well said! That is a great observati...Adam Zanzie:<br /><br />Well said! That is a great observation about FRANTIC being a thriller about jet lag. I hadn't thought of it quite in those terms but now that you mention it. And the resemblance to BLOW OUT is interesting! Maybe that's another reason why I like FRANTIC so much as De Palma's film is my fave of his.<br /><br />Thanks for the great comments!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164105442273577128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407391624985829089.post-83628671440460544862010-09-12T21:50:16.554-04:002010-09-12T21:50:16.554-04:00já assiti esse filme! ele é muito bom! Emmanuelle ...já assiti esse filme! ele é muito bom! Emmanuelle é uma atriz belissima! muito gata! e sua beleza abrilhanta esse filme! Marcos Punch.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407391624985829089.post-33691511865504529012010-08-28T22:06:01.890-04:002010-08-28T22:06:01.890-04:00What I love so much about Frantic is not just that...What I love so much about <i>Frantic</i> is not just that it's a terrific thriller about jet-lag, but that at its heart it's about a man whose jet-lag has so confused him that he must cope with the disaster of recent events while at the same time choose between two women: a wife who is aging but loves him and pleads for his help, and a young French femme fatale whose signs of affection for him become less and less subtle. The purpose of Walker and his wife coming to Paris at all is to spend a sort of second honeymoon, but for the entirety of the film he's in honeymoon with a tightly-clothed babe whose kiss on the cheek seems more than just a signal of friendship, and whose seductive dance seems to be less of an attempt to distract the terrorists and more of... a personal invitation?<br /><br />The ending also reminds me of De Palma's <i>Blow Out</i>. The hero is left to cradle the dead heroine in his arms, and in the last scene can do nothing except cash in on "the good scream" or tell his wife, "I love you, baby."<br /><br />Just a classic film. Siskel and Ebert agreed that Polanski had returned to form and was back on track--little did we know that with <i>The Pianist</i> and <i>The Ghost Writer</i>, the best was yet to come.Adam Zanziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14524618281515322239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407391624985829089.post-57198571180261646472010-06-23T09:29:09.744-04:002010-06-23T09:29:09.744-04:00The Sci-Fi Fanatic:
Not to mention all the films ...The Sci-Fi Fanatic:<br /><br />Not to mention all the films he's turned over the years, like TRAFFIC! He would've been excellent in that film. Oh well...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164105442273577128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407391624985829089.post-42011388047583178542010-06-22T22:59:35.230-04:002010-06-22T22:59:35.230-04:00J.D.
I agree completely. This performance was ...J.D. <br /><br />I agree completely. This performance was right there during the strongest period of his career.<br /><br />It has been weak for some time I concur. Firewall is a great example. Egads!SFFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04256589316922398158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407391624985829089.post-76076094777280932062010-06-22T14:42:48.482-04:002010-06-22T14:42:48.482-04:00The Sci-Fi Fanatic:
I have to admit that when thi...The Sci-Fi Fanatic:<br /><br />I have to admit that when this film first came out I passed it by completely. In fact, I didn't get around to watching it finally until years later and revisiting it again made me wonder why it has languished in relative obscurity for so long?<br /><br />It also reminded me of how diverse the roles Harrison Ford had in the 1980s which I would argue was his most prolific and the most interesting period in his career.<br /><br />But it was interesting to revisit this film and notice all the things I missed the first time out. There's a lot going on for such a fairly straightforward thriller and Ford really does anchor it with a typically solid performance. I do like Ford a lot but in recent years he seems to have gone on autopilot. Maybe he was put off by audiences generally not responding to his more atypical choices in the 1980s and he stopped caring.<br /><br />I liked THE PIANIST as well but I admit to having a soft spot for his left-of-center films like THE NINTH GATE, which like FRANTIC, was generally ignored.<br /><br />And yeah, it is pretty shocking that this film hasn't been given a proper DVD treatment. I got lucky and snagged a copy of it letterboxed off of cable TV. It really does make all the difference.<br /><br />Thanks for you kind words and great comments!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164105442273577128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407391624985829089.post-37131951146090721632010-06-22T14:40:07.793-04:002010-06-22T14:40:07.793-04:00Based upon Tony Dayoub's remarks I thought the...Based upon Tony Dayoub's remarks I thought there was no Blu-Ray.<br /><br />Fortunately there does appear to be a Double Feature Blu-Ray featuring Frantic that was released in Feb.<br /><br />Granted guys, I don't know how good it is, but it is in Widescreen.SFFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04256589316922398158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407391624985829089.post-84972731604754034522010-06-22T14:35:13.180-04:002010-06-22T14:35:13.180-04:00No Blu-Ray! WTF!? I mean darn!No Blu-Ray! WTF!? I mean darn!SFFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04256589316922398158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407391624985829089.post-41836619989088322912010-06-22T14:33:11.657-04:002010-06-22T14:33:11.657-04:00J.D.
It was interesting to see you offer us a fla...J.D.<br /><br />It was interesting to see you offer us a flashback of Ford's work. It has been diverse.<br /><br />I would have to admit. I was one of those people who underappreciated the film. Having said that, it sounds like I should look at it again considering I watched this film back when I was a fairly young fellow.<br /><br />Your analysis of the relationship between Ford and Buckley is a great case in point. It sounds like an element of the film I may have generally missed as a wide-eyed young'un.<br /><br />Given your description of Harrison Ford's character, Polanski's choice of Paris, France as a backdrop is once again visually interesting as a symbol to emphasize this American fish-out-of-water character. The setting was always a highlight for me. Granted, Polanski's self-chosen, self-imposed exile/ fugitive-from-the-law status makes that a must. I did love his The Piano too.<br /><br />Your review really has me itching to see this picture again through new eyes. I always love Harrison Ford in just about anything. He is such a charismatic presence in film. Clear And Present Danger. Patriot Games. He's only had a few missteps where the material was so bad he couldn't rescue it. I agree he is a terrific actor.<br /><br />Completely agree with you on the Hitchcock analogy. It really feels that way with some of the shots. Okay, I can't take it anymore, I am frantic to see Frantic.<br /><br />By the way, I loved Betty Buckley in Eight Is Enough. ;^)SFFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04256589316922398158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407391624985829089.post-48028887707351694502010-06-21T09:39:53.965-04:002010-06-21T09:39:53.965-04:00Mr. Peel:
Yeah, FRANTIC tends to be one of Polans...Mr. Peel:<br /><br />Yeah, FRANTIC tends to be one of Polanski's neglected films and it took me a long time to finally get around to it for some reason but I really like this film a helluva lot. Glad to see that you're also a fan.<br /><br /><br />John:<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by. I agree that FRANTIC certainly isn't up to the lofty standards of CHINATOWN but it is still solid piece of work in its own right. I also think that it features one of Ford's best performances.<br /><br /><br />le0pard13:<br /><br />Thank you for the kind words, my friend. I certainly agree with your comments. There is a feeling of helplessness, of losing all bearings while being in a strange land where you don't even understand the language that permeates FRANTIC and helps make it quite the effective thriller.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164105442273577128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407391624985829089.post-22048851491044361962010-06-20T18:31:53.220-04:002010-06-20T18:31:53.220-04:00Another wonderful review, J.D. The one aspect I re...Another wonderful review, J.D. The one aspect I really appreciate about this thriller is its nightmare of presumption. Even if you don't travel much, France has a familiarity to most Americans because of books and films. Polanski's film really brings it to the audience by showing it doesn't take much to send one wandering into the (foreign) wilderness. That vulnerability causes anyone who has gone abroad to say, "<i>There but for the grace of God, go I</i>. It really hits home, in a manner of speaking. Plus, among his non-blockbuster roles, I love Ford's work in WITNESS and this film. Thanks for this.le0pard13https://www.blogger.com/profile/09421175808461787862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407391624985829089.post-74411343143838782392010-06-19T16:12:55.824-04:002010-06-19T16:12:55.824-04:00I am on the same page here. I think this film has ...I am on the same page here. I think this film has been underrated since it first was released in theaters. it may not be top notch work like REPULSION or CHINATOWN but this film can certainly stand on its own. Nice job!Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01808503055317962289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407391624985829089.post-78784692203343953332010-06-18T20:04:33.128-04:002010-06-18T20:04:33.128-04:00I've long had a fondness for this film--no, sc...I've long had a fondness for this film--no, scratch that, I've long loved this film and used to watch it a lot. It's been a few years by now, though, and I've put off taking another look at it to maybe write something. Maybe it's because I've become much more acquainted with Polanski's genuine masterpieces than I was when I first saw this as a teenager. Deep down I know a few of those films are probably better but I'll always be a little more attached to this one. Anyone else who's going to rise to its defense is ok with me.Mr. Peel aka Peter Avellinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10553482286909862975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407391624985829089.post-66780394412605976452010-06-18T16:17:32.958-04:002010-06-18T16:17:32.958-04:00Tony Dayoub:
That would be nice! Or maybe the Cri...Tony Dayoub:<br /><br />That would be nice! Or maybe the Criterion Collection can get their hands on it seeing as how WB doesn't seem to give a crap about it. Of course, having said whaddya bet we see it pop in their Archives Collection?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164105442273577128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407391624985829089.post-72805021403556559332010-06-18T16:13:23.692-04:002010-06-18T16:13:23.692-04:00FRANTIC is a sorely underrated film ripe for redis...FRANTIC is a sorely underrated film ripe for rediscovery. However, I think that's been impeded by the lousy standard DVD that's been floating around since what... 1997? It's about time someone did right by this film and released it in at least an anamorphic version if not in a full blown high-def Blu-ray.Tony Dayoubhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04632329277519635858noreply@blogger.com