Savages

Rating:
Summary: A Hilarious Allegory of the Decline of Western Civilization
Review: Merchant and Ivory go on a psychedelic bender in this mad indictment of capitalist culture and hubris. The accidental discovery by the mud people of a perfect sphere induces them to abort their planned human sacrifice and follow the bouncing ball. This leads them to an abandoned Long Island mansion, where, literally overnight, they blunder their way into the formation of a perfect 1930's dinner-party society. There are an industrialist, a poet, male and female cross-dressers, a fallen woman, a slave girl, and the hard-boiled hostess with the mostest, Carlotta. All have their roles to play in the rise and fall of "progress". As various power struggles play out, unresolved tensions force a dissolution of the social structure and the characters devolve into the "savages" that they were at the beginning of the film.

Still one of the most amusing parables available regarding the excesses of Western -- and specifically American -- culture, "Savages" is as loony as a mushroom trip and as symbol-laden as a classic fairy tale.

I'd have given it five stars, except that there a couple of scenes toward the end that just don't seem as tight as the rest of the film -- but maybe that's just me.



Rating:
Summary: JUNGLE DUMS..........
Review: THE MUD People are about to perform the usual human sacrifice, when out of nowhere - lo! A red ball [croquet I recall] comes whizzing out of nowhere and lands in their midst! Fascinated, they abandon the victim and trace the trajectory back to its origin - a decaying, vast, ancient mansion 'in the jungle'. THEN AN astute member finds a trunk filled with rather lovely period costumes [circa 1920 ish], and as they start donning the robes - they transform the action into something along the lines of Gatsby revisited ........ Hmmmm a quaint concept - and it does hold attention!

ODD little movie from the early 70ties with Sam Waterston, Salome Jens, Kathleen Widdoes, even Ultra Violet. [An Early
James Ivory for your collection]

Superb Costumes and Art direction - if you're in a quirky "Brazil type" mood.

Rating:
Summary: Savages
Review: This movie was way ahead of its time. A terrific satire on the sophistication of our civilization. A group of savages are able to emulate 20th century life until tragedy strikes and forces them back to the existence of their comfort zone. "The Gods Must Be Crazy" is a me-too copy of this classic film. Not for the "light-hearted".

Rating:
Summary: Actors must have needed a paycheck! Ugh!!
Review: Weird is hardly adequate for this thing. I tried to watch this one, but fast forwarded through most of it. Obviously not my taste to keep this dumb movie in my library, so I didn't. Truly the actors must have needed the work. Can't you imagine their giggling through this thing as they marched ...through the muddy forest to their next adventure! They followed the bouncing/rolling wooden ball to discover a new era, including a chest of old clothes and how to wear them. That was somewhat amusing, even though briefly. If you like odd, old scripts, you might like this thing. But alas! The characters head back to their life in the jungle. Get real!

We like Sam Waterston in just about any role he's chosen. His part in this one is OK, but it's almost embarrassing to see him in this kind of movie. It's just not worthy of him. This movie is from 1972 when he was only 32-years old and had a 2-year old to feed. He must have needed to pay the rent too!

I really don't like to be negative regarding a review, but if you're going to spend your money to get it, and your time to see it, you should be aware that it's really strange! (Don't want this video on my Sam Waterston library shelf. He's so excellent in his later roles. Try one of those.) Hope this helps you out.