Melvin and Howard

Rating:
Summary: A half-forgotten masterpiece
Review: Jonathan Demme is too successful for his own good. Long before Silence of the Lambs, he made this near-perfect film from a Bo Goldman script about a congenital loser named Melvin Dummar who one night gives Howard Hughes, whom he mistakes for a derelict, a ride to Vegas. His frenetic life takes up most of the rest of the movie, until a mysterious will signed by Hughes turns up naming Melvin as the recipient of $156,000,000. How this changes or fails to change Melvin's life is just another of the sweet ironies of this neglected, unassuming little masterpiece. Mary Steenburgen and Paul Le Mat make their characters achingly real as they try in their often divergent ways to find some kind of success in life, only to realize, divorced and living miles apart, that they were obviously meant for each other. Jason Robards manages to make Howard Hughes somewhat human underneath the millionaire's grizzled misanthropy. It's been ages since an American filmmaker showed this much love for his characters. One of the Great American films.

Rating:
Summary: A masterpiece of American cinema
Review: Though "Melvin And Howard" is a gem of a movie it remains relatively unknown today. It has slowly become a cult classic since it's release in 1980, particularly due to director Jonathan Demme's success with the film "Silence Of The Lambs". After he became the proverbial "household word" fans of 'Lambs', movie buffs, film fanatics, cultists, etc. anxiously searched out other works by Demme. I had been an ardent fan of "Melvin And Howard" having seen it way back then so I was pleased when it resurfaced for several showings on cable tv and made the revival theater circuit as well.

Though the phrase has been used too often "Melvin And Howard" is a one-of-a-kind classic. The movie tells the story of Melvin Dummars, one of life's unfortunate losers living a hand-to-mouth existence. A financial ruin trying to live beyond his means, he never sees his life quite the way he should - his truck and motorcycle are repossessed shortly after he arrives home from work. Earlier in the film Melvin has an encounter with Howard Hughes that has to be seen to be believed. This event will change his life inexplicably a few years down the road, resulting in chaos and personal trial. But all that takes up surprisingly little of this film. It centers firmly on Melvin and his efforts to make something of himself - any success will satisfy him immensely. The episodes of Melvin's life that are played out for us range from comedic to tragic to bittersweet to frustrating to exhilarating. Definitely more of a fable than a document of Melvin Dummar's true life experiences, it still doesn't diminish the effectiveness of the movie. As portrayed by Paul Le Mat, Melvin embodies a spirit that assures you he will endure and survive long after many others will have given up.

Rating:
Summary: A masterpiece of American cinema
Review: Though "Melvin And Howard" is a gem of a movie it remains relatively unknown today. It has slowly become a cult classic since it's release in 1980, particularly due to director Jonathan Demme's success with the film "Silence Of The Lambs". After he became the proverbial "household word" fans of 'Lambs', movie buffs, film fanatics, cultists, etc. anxiously searched out other works by Demme. I had been an ardent fan of "Melvin And Howard" having seen it way back then so I was pleased when it resurfaced for several showings on cable tv and made the revival theater circuit as well.

Though the phrase has been used too often "Melvin And Howard" is a one-of-a-kind classic. The movie tells the story of Melvin Dummars, one of life's unfortunate losers living a hand-to-mouth existence. A financial ruin trying to live beyond his means, he never sees his life quite the way he should - his truck and motorcycle are repossessed shortly after he arrives home from work. Earlier in the film Melvin has an encounter with Howard Hughes that has to be seen to be believed. This event will change his life inexplicably a few years down the road, resulting in chaos and personal trial. But all that takes up surprisingly little of this film. It centers firmly on Melvin and his efforts to make something of himself - any success will satisfy him immensely. The episodes of Melvin's life that are played out for us range from comedic to tragic to bittersweet to frustrating to exhilarating. Definitely more of a fable than a document of Melvin Dummar's true life experiences, it still doesn't diminish the effectiveness of the movie. As portrayed by Paul Le Mat, Melvin embodies a spirit that assures you he will endure and survive long after many others will have given up.