5 Comments »

1. Jonathan Lapper says; October 26, 2007 @ 9:05 pm

   What a great movie! I remember this and if were two “finalists” for my selections for 68 and 73 and I referred to the director as the “ever under-rated Lindsey Anderson.” It’s amazing to me still how many people are unaware of his work. I’d like to think this DVD will change that but I think it will be sold to it’s built-in audience and not venture far past that. And it’s the first movie where most of us got to know Helen Mirren, such an excellent actress.

   And as you and I have lamented so many times before, Malcolm McDowell is so good in this and so many other films - and has never been nominated - ONCE! Not ONCE! It boggles the mind! With Helen Mirren just finally winning her first Oscar I hope that Malcolm is not far behind. He is long overdue.

2. Keith says; October 27, 2007 @ 1:36 pm

   I’ve never seen this one, but it sounds great. Plus I’ll watch anything that Malcolm McDowell is in. I’ll have to check it out. Hope you’re having a good weekend.

3. cinebeats says; October 28, 2007 @ 10:48 am

   Jonathan - I think 60s-70s era British cinema in general tends to often be overlooked a lot due to the lackluster critical response so many of that countries films got during their initial release, which is a shame. Anderson is really brilliant and I’m very happy that his work is finally finding its way onto DVD this year.

   I’m also not surprised McDowell has been overlooked by the Academy since in the early stages of his career he tended to work in more experimental or cutting-edge films. Hopefully he’ll get more interesting roles soon. I haven’t seen a lot of recent films, but Tim Lucas (who I linked to above) seems to have enjoyed many of them.

   Keith - I hope you get a chance to see it soon now that it’s available on DVD! My weekend’s going great and I hope yours is too.

4. Princess Amara Hassim says; November 16, 2008 @ 3:13 pm

   Yes. First of all as a child of Britain in the 60’s and
   70;s - I was born in ‘65, I can tell you this film - which
   is an amazing work - really captures of the essence not
   only of how Britains’ meltdown began in the 3-Day Week
   of 1973-75, but also living in the material world or 2008.
   Conditioned to grow up, go to work, do your best till
   burnout, get married, drop dead and die, it’s a funny old
   life isn’t it. No human is spared or allowed to live as
   a person.
   In this EPIC movie, Anderson gives us a full dose of
   one such character, Mick Travis who despite his best
   efforts to succeed in this crazy scnario for “life”, fails
   dismally, simply because he forgot to read the small
   print - a’la “…despite the human doctrine for a “normal”
   life, be prepared to sit on the sidelines unless your very
   very lucky. OR if you dip in the cookie jar don’t get
   caught.”
   Well Mick does get caught, and all sorts of complications
   ensue. But although this film IS genuinelly funny in
   places its wise to bear in mind that always beneath its
   slick surreal veneer, is a VERY serious under-belly.
   Sometimes perhaps too serious. But the sad simple truth
   is that in this world of 2008 everyone gets caught
   somewhere, rightly or wrongly - and even more sadly its’
   often than not perhaps wrongly. The one bright note IN
   this movie is the fact that Anderson DOES offer hope
   to us all. “Smile!” he says in the final segment. And
   smile you must, ESPECIALLY when the chips are down. Cos
   when you forget to do that, then you begin to forget where
   you put it…just like most others nowadays, perhaps?
   The movie also features a standout soundtrack from ex-
   Animals keyboardsman, Alan Price. Check it out, this movie
   is a must for anyone who likes classic Brit Cinema (or
   good Cinema in general), or for those who are more
   serious-minded and would wish to goto making films in
   they’re own right. This, if nothing else is an exercise
   in professional film making and was a tribute to all
   concerned, especially mssrs, McDowell and Anderson.

5. cinebeats says; November 16, 2008 @ 3:55 pm

   Thanks for sharing your smart insights about O Lucky Man!, Princess Amara Hassim! I enjoyed reading your comment. I don’t often get such lengthy responses to my posts so yours is much appreciated and I completely agree with you assessment of the film.

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