The Razor's Edge
September 24, 2008 - 6:37pm
#1
The Razor’s Edge
I don’t watch TV (don’t have cable – out of choice),
but occasionally I like to chill & watch films
So last night I found myself watching one of my favorite movies – The second film adaptation of the book by Somerset Maugham, “The Razor’s
Edgeâ€.
This was the 1984 version with Bill Murray in his first dramatic lead role. The critics panned the hell out of it, but I thought he did a fine job and the rest of the cast did too –
especially Theresa Russell who played the doomed Sophie and Catherine Hicks in the role of extremely materialistic Isabelle.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-cIUVgacaY
Anyone else fancy this film? Feel
free to chime in.
Another favorite film is “The Manchurian Candidate†the original with Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, and Angela Lansbury, not the Hollywood Over-hyped with gratuitous
special-effects remake with Meryl Streep.
The 1962 version is suspenseful & mesmerizing as it is (plus the title is more appropriate in the ‘62
film).
And Lawrence Harvey was amazing as he psychologically unraveled. It is sad that the actor died so young. He had a lot of promise.
This film is very
apropos to the political drama we face today.
“….rallying a Nation of television viewers into hysteria to sweep us up into the White House with Powers that will make Martial Law seem like Anarchyâ€â€¦
September 24, 2008 - 6:41pm
#2
I love the original “The Manchurian Candidate”! I had a little trouble with the remake, although it was mostly with Meryl Streep. She’s very stagey, and I don’t like to be aware that I’m watching an actress who is very aware of herself, if that makes any sense, haha.
I need to watch “Razor’s Edge” someday.
September 24, 2008 - 6:51pm
#3
Thanks TomsMom.
Yeah – Meryl is not a bad actress (some parts she chose are questionable and her
stagy-ness seems to have become more developed over time, ie ~ she was consistently better in her earlier roles),
but Lansbury nailed it.
Good God she was such an evil, calculating, incestuous piece of work! That role was eons away from the likes of“Murder, She
Wrote”.
I like the original so much that I honestly could not bring myself to watch the ‘Streep’
version.
While ‘Razor’s Edge’ is a much different film it has substance to it (unlike some of the fluff that is produced now). The original – with Tyrone Power – was probably better in some aspects, but they didn’t over-do
it in the remake (as is so often the case).
Cheers! :)
September 24, 2008 - 7:39pm
#4
My Psych 101 professor required us to watch the original Manchurian Candidate. It was great and Lansbury was fabulous.
