Hombre

Rating:
Summary: 'Hombre' is great example of the western in transition
Review: "Hombre," one of Paul Newman's "H" movies of the 1960s, meanders along for its first two reels before things kick into overdrive with the introduction of Richard Boone's villain. From his first moment on screen, Boone projects a very believable image of evil, a study of bullying, intimidation and ruthlessness, and his performance is only matched by the film's star.

Newman, as a cynical white man who has been raised by Native Americans, takes a cold and calculated approach to the threat Boone represents, one entirely at odds with the one preferred by the woman who wants to love him, Diane Cilento. For much of the film, Newman seems never to make a move that comes from sentiment or gallantry, and the film asks a number of pointed questions about sacrifice, manhood and chivalry, at a time when America was reconsidering these and other ideals.

Any DVD worth buying is one that rewards repeated viewings, and "Hombre" definitely meets that standard. For a fine example of the Western as it began to redefine itself in the late '60s, you can't go wrong with this one.

Rating:
Summary: Cicero Grimes, meet John Russell
Review: A magnificent dramatization of a self-reliant egoist struggling to exist in a world of altruists, parasites, racists and pragmatists. The parasites (Grimes and the other outlaws) try to kill Hombre (also known as John Russell) physically; the pragmatist (Mendez) tries to convert him into a go-along-to-get-along, subservient type, trying to kill his ambition; the racists (the Favors, who are also parasites, and a couple of the minor outlaw characters) treat him like dirt, assaulting his self-esteem; and the altruists (Jessie Brown, and the young married couple) try to load him with a guilty conscience for the unforgivable sin of pursuing his own self-interest, his own happiness, to kill his spirit.

None of them succeed in changing him one iota. He goes down fighting, uncompromising. ...

Some great lines from the movie:

After not intervening on behalf of a victim of Grimes, and being berated for it by Jessie, Hombre says: "If it's all right with you, lady, I just didn't feel liking bleeding for him. And even if it isn't all right with you."

Jessie: "You mean you'd just let that (hostage) woman die?"
Hombre: "That's up to Grimes (the outlaw who held the woman hostage)." Hombre refuses to accept guilt for what is clearly Grimes' responsibility: the life of the hostage.

Jessie, after the stagecoach passengers are robbed, and are in a state of helplessness, speaking to Hombre: "Why do we keep trotting after you?"
Hombre: "Because I can cut it, lady."

Finally, Grimes comes up to "parley" with Hombre and the others trapped in an old mining shack. Hombre determines that Grimes has no right to any parley, as he was holding them there at the point of a gun. He therefore lets Grimes come out into the open and talk, and when he finishes talking, Hombre says:

"I got a question. How you gonna get back down that hill?" I leave it to your imagination as to what happens next. It was directly after that encounter when Jessie made this comment: "Cicero Grimes, meet John Russell."

Rating:
Summary: A mixed review
Review: Hombre is a very good western. Newman is cool, Boone is a great Villian, the action is well done, and there are some pretty good lines of dialoge.

However, its a 60s movie and full of liberal attitudes. Paul Newman (Hombre) is the most noble, intelligent, capable native-american who ever existed on planet earth. And every white person in the movie is immoral, stupid, racist, and cowardly. (Except for Richard Boone who is brave but a murderous criminal.) Which is pretty amazing considering that the Old West was a dangerous place where almost everyone had to self-relient and know how to handle a gun.

Anyone who watches the movie has to wonder why Hombre (Newman) doesn't leave these horrible honkeys to their own fate. I guess it because he's the most the noble native-american ever.

Rating:
Summary: An Arizona Story
Review: HOMBRE is less a Western than an Arizona story. It is a bad White-man/good Apache story of Indian deprivation, well-portrayed by Paul Newman, supported by a no weaklink cast. Director Martin Ritt kept the whole thing in balance. Though the plot opened slowly as the characters developed, you soon realize that Newman was the guy for the Apache message--slow-to-burn from bigots' acid remarks, taciturn to a point of conceit, and equipped with only mot juste retorts. "Did you ever eat dawg, lady?" The story has a few humorous lines or occassions; eg. a little harmless voyeurism. It is primarly, however, packed with ample gun-slinging, cowards, rotten scoundrels, and an Apache hero, Newman. For directing, casting, and top-notch role-playing Hombre should rate at the top of Western movies.

Rating:
Summary: It's ok
Review: Hombre isn't up the standards of Newman's best movies--The Hustler, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. But it is a pretty good movie. The characters border on stereotypical, the story is simple, and they don't touch too much on the prejudices of the times, but Newman puts in a good performance, making worthy of watching (for Newman fans). And the ending is particularly well done, and a bit unexpected. It's the ending that makes the movie worth the price.

As a dvd, Fox has created a failure. There are virtually no extras. There's a few behind the scenes stills and trailers for this movie, and a few of Newman's other films, but no commentary, documentary, or anything.

If you already have it on VHS, don't worry about buying the dvd. If you don't have it, rent it first, then decide if you want to buy it, and in what format.

Rating:
Summary: The Greatest Western Ever Made
Review: I am very surprised that "Hombre" is not available at major movie rental outlets or in DVD format. In my opinion, it is a masterpiece, the greatest western I've ever seen, and among the greatest films of any genre I've ever seen. I note, however, that AMC does feature this film from time to time, so somebody agrees with me somewhere.

The film is perfect; without a wasted word of dialogue, stunning cinematography, brilliant acting and perfect editing. It is full of irony and is absolutely unpredictable. It is near to poetry on film as can be. It brings to mind every study of philosophy and Human nature that one has undertaken from high school through college and beyond, while at the same time being entertaining, amusing and thrilling. I will never forget Paul Newman's "John Russell," or Richard Boone's "Cicero Grimes," the two opposing forces of this film, with the uniquely essential characters of "Mendez" (Martin Balsam), "the Mexican" et. al. in between. A truly great film, in the opinion of one who has been driven to write only one movie review in his entire life; this one.

Rating:
Summary: The Greatest Western Ever Made
Review: I am very surprised that "Hombre" is not available at major movie rental outlets or in DVD format. In my opinion, it is a masterpiece, the greatest western I've ever seen, and among the greatest films of any genre I've ever seen. I note, however, that AMC does feature this film from time to time, so somebody agrees with me somewhere.

The film is perfect; without a wasted word of dialogue, stunning cinematography, brilliant acting and perfect editing. It is full of irony and is absolutely unpredictable. It is near to poetry on film as can be. It brings to mind every study of philosophy and Human nature that one has undertaken from high school through college and beyond, while at the same time being entertaining, amusing and thrilling. I will never forget Paul Newman's "John Russell," or Richard Boone's "Cicero Grimes," the two opposing forces of this film, with the uniquely essential characters of "Mendez" (Martin Balsam), "the Mexican" et. al. in between. A truly great film, in the opinion of one who has been driven to write only one movie review in his entire life; this one.

Rating:
Summary: One of the great, underrated films of the 60's
Review: I first saw this as a kid at a drive-in in the sixties (hey, my dad loved westerns - if someone was getting shot in the forehead, that was just fine with him) and have recently seen it again on cable. Nothing has changed my initial eye-opened response to it, only appreciated it like "Hud" and "Ride The High Country" even more, with the added maturity and understanding. It's hard, unflinching, the script and dialogue - with a delicious sense of dry, sardonic humour throughout - are first-rate, miles ahead of the other westerns of the time (and even today). The performances by a top-notch, hand-picked cast are as uncompromising and as naturalistic as you get, easily the best ensemble performance, top to bottom, I've seen yet in a western, including such worthies as "Ulzana's Raid" and "The Wild Bunch". The actors must have realized what they had, because this film brought out the best work in everyone. One caveat: the current, and only, release available is in the traditional "non-letter boxed" version, cropping all of the scenes and destroying much of director Martin Ritt's composition, especially in the great give-and-take scenes between Newman and Cilento. And my one great, unanswered question remains: why are'nt quality films like this, or "Ride The High Country" or "The Iceman Cometh" (with Robert Ryan OR Jason Robards) digitally remastered and available on DVD yet? (The Ryan version of "Iceman" isn't even available on VHS!) Meanwhile, every ridiculous, forgettable teen-age angst comedy under the sun gets immediately reissued - with DVD extras. An under-appreciated gem of both Newman's and Ritt's, and one of the best films of both men's careers. And, by the way, the ending makes perfect sense - real life, and human fraility and, ultimately, sacrifice, does resolve like that - unlike the movies.

Rating:
Summary: I Believe this is the Best Western of them all!
Review: I know that is a bold statement, but this movie is simply the best Western I've ever seen. It's simple but its AWESOME. Newman has more profound, one-liners in this movie than most actors have in a lifetime. He is a tough man without a conscience. He is a survivalist. His friends and foes don't understand him, and thats okay with him. But in the end, his one attempt at humanity and compassion is his downfall. Richard Boone, is also a tough man without a conscience. But he is nothing short of evil. This movie is the best. If you got a little time and patience (not terribly fast paced)I think you will agree with me, and give this movie a big thumbs up.

Rating:
Summary: Embracing the liberal line can get you killed
Review: I liked about 90% of this movie, but that last 10% ruins it. I first saw this in a drive-in in 1967, and remembered the good things about it. But seeing it again on cable, the bad things come out. Too much of the dialogue sounds like speeches. Why, if Russell is their only way out, do they constantly down him, and favor Favor and his wife, who stole from the Indians, and even after Favor tries to leave them and steal their water. Why is everybody but Russell so follish and wimpy. Why can nobody shoot a gun except Russell. Even Martin Balsom, as the Mexican driver, get all weepy when he has to fire a shotgun to defend himself. Why does Russell, after being so stoic and wise, and selfish, suddenly go against all his principles at the end and, naturally, get himself killed? The love of a good woman? When self-preservation seems to be his main goal in life, he would give it all up to impress a woman he's only known a few days? The movie seems to say that all white people are soft and stupid, and they will stick up for each other, even if some of them are criminals, at the expense someone who has lived with the Indians, the only noble person in the whole movie. All in all, it leaves a bad taste in your mouth.