WHAT I ALREADY KNEW ABOUT THE MOVIE:
1. It's a western starring Gary Cooper.
2. It's about a guy looking for people in a small town to help him in an impending gun fight with outlaws.
LET ME EXPLAIN...
I had been looking forward to watching this one for a while. In fact, for some reason, as I got closer to completing this bucket list item, I decided that "High Noon" would be the final "new" film I'd see. I thought it was a safe bet that I'd like the movie and feel good about ending the AFI list quest on a high note (as opposed to say, any of these films).
Well, I did end up enjoying this movie. I wouldn't say I loved it, but it had some great things going for it: Gary Cooper's acting, a simple yet compelling story that really made me feel for the main character, and the ultimate use of time as a tension-builder. In fact, except for a couple edits, this movie moves in real time, which was a pleasant surprise once I noticed it (I wonder if the creators of 24 got their inspiration from this movie). That really built the tension for me, sort of like a giant wave coming right at you from miles away - it's a steadily-moving doom that's impossible to escape or ignore. It made the shots of the empty train station and tracks ominous, too - you don't see anything coming, but you know it's only a matter of time.
However, once the climactic ending finally arrived, I felt a bit underwhelmed, though I think that's probably because of all the other movies I have seen that have huge, explosive endings with crazy twists in the action (there is a twist in this one, but it's presented so mildly that you might not even notice it). For its time, I'd say this was probably a great ending.
What makes this a "Top 100" Movie?
It's a classic western with a story that's extremely simple, but with so much subtext it leaves you thinking about virtue, courage, cowardice, and standing up for what's right (it did for me, at least). It was nominated for 7 Academy Awards, winning 4 of them (Best Actor, Best Film Editing, Best Song, and Best Music). For the record, the award-winning song seemed a bit strange and lame in the beginning, but its use throughout the movie, and how the lyrics align with the story, made this one of the most appropriate Oscar-winning songs ever, in my opinion. Too many songs win when they are only played during the closing credits, and they're over-produced and homogenized - like "Into the West" from Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
Complaints
The few times they edited scenes in such a way that it ceased to be truly in real-time, and the underwhelming ending.
LET ME SUM UP...
Classic western with a simple story that makes you want to be there for Gary Cooper's character. A great tension-builder that falls a little flat in the end, but overall a very good movie.
MY RATING: 7/10
TOTAL # OF FILMS WATCHED: 100!!!
2 comments:
Congrats on finishing your quest! I know how time-consuming it is, so I can appreciate all the work that went into this. Was it worth it to you? And without me reading every one of your posts (trying not to read ahead), which was your absolute favorite?
Thanks, Lindsey! I would say it was definitely worth it to me. I feel more well-rounded when it comes to movies now, more enlightened when it comes to American pop culture through the 20th century, and the list of movies that make me go "Gah! I have to see that someday!" has greatly diminished. =o)
As for my absolute favorite, I'm planning a few follow-up blog posts that address that question. It's also really difficult to pick just one, so I'll answer your question this way:
Personal Favorite: 12 Angry Men
Best Made: The Godfather
Favorite Film I Hadn't Seen Before: On the Waterfront
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