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Summary: "Small town, not much to do in the evenin'."
Review: That's the answer that Luke Jackson (Paul Newman) gives when asked why the heck he was wrenching off the tops of all those parking meters. The first shot of the movie, in fact, shows his handiwork -- a whole row of decapitated meters sticking up out of the sidewalk.He's one odd boy, this Luke. He hardly even seems to care he's in stir for having done this. To him a work farm just seems like another place for him to wait for something interesting to happen -- and when it does (as it always does), there's that big, lazy smile of his. Was he waiting for something? Probably not -- by the time it's all over, he hasn't gotten a single thing he wanted (except for a hilarious out-of-town stint), but he's given a lot of other people more than they could have ever asked. What makes "Cool Hand Luke" such a wonderful movie is its tone and tenor -- widely imitated but not surpassed by other movies of its stripe. The movie is not about prison or chain gangs, but about the weather of a man's spirit, and how he deals (or chooses not to deal) with what he's been handed. Luke himself says it: "Sometimes nothing can be a real cool hand," and he sums himself up in that sentence. Here is a fellow with no particular skills in life, no real direction, no ambition -- in short, something we are ostensibly taught from the git-go to hate. His crime? Parking meters. The film draws a simple case: Luke as a quietly selfish free spirit vs. the system. But instead of loading it down with symbolic baggage, the movie works by making its case with drama and often great humor. The egg-eating contest, for instance -- it finds just the right balance between humor and drama to make its points, and ends with Luke passed out on the bed in a Christlike pose. (Whether or not that's a deliberate shot is open to speculation; it certainly looks like it was composed, but it's not held too long to force the issue on us.) The best thing about the movie is the performances. Nobody hits a false note or an unconvincing turn. A big chunk of George Kennedy's reputation comes from this film, and you can see why: he's more or less the direct foil for Paul Newman throughout the movie, commenting on and playing off the man's actions. But look how many others are also in here: Strother Martin (as Captain), Dennis Hopper, Harry Dean Stanton... a veritable roll-call of actors who're all independently watchable and fascinating.
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Summary: A criminally underratted and brilliant film.
Review: This is one of the great, old films from the sixties. A visual and emotional masterpiece that managed to capture both critical and commercial success, proving its appeal to a wide range of audiences. This is an old Hollywood movie but with some new Hollywood themes and ideas. Stuart Rosenberg's 1967 film "Cool Hand Luke" is a story about a loner who after cutting some heads off of parking meters is sent to prison and forced to work on a chain gang. This is the basic story but the film itself is more about a man who is destined always to be a loner. He is similar to Ethan Edwards in "The Searchers" or Travis Bickle in "Taxi Driver" in a way that all three of these characters are complete and utter loners. They never really fit in, at least not for long, but are always very interesting. At the beginning of the movie Luke is alone, drunk and in an act of rebellion against the government starts vandalizing property. We never find out what drove him to this but we know it was "rules and regulations". We know he was a war hero so perhaps he couldn't adjust to regular life when he got home, who knows, the point is that he is a loner. He is sent to prison and at the beginning of his sentence he is still a loner. He isn't a regular prisoner yet but is still quite different from the other new guys. He has a certain air of intelligence around him and a little cockiness too. He eventually gains the prisoner's respect and eventually becomes a sort of God in their eyes through stuff he does (including a savvy poker move and one crazy egg-eating contest). Through all of this though, he is still not really one of them. He is however one of them in one scene of the movie: the one where the prisoners are shoveling tarmac onto a road and Luke manages to ruffle up their spirits and the men finish the job in a very short time. In this scene all of the men come together in a kind of mis-guided rebellion against the guards. Luke is equal to them at this point but doom is on the horizon and as the viewer you sense this. The death of Luke's mother changes everything and he gets "rabbit in his blood" and proceeds to try to escape. He is a loner again at this point. The film goes on until the final stand off with the prison guards. What happens is inevitable. I'm not going to say what it is but it will seem necessary to prove a point. Acting wise this is Paul Newman's best work to date. He is one of my personal favourites and had delivered outstanding roles in "The Hustler", "Hud" and "Nobody's Fool" but this tops them all. His finest moment in the film comes when he sings for his dead mother. The look in his eyes says it all and you can't help but feel his pain. The rest of the cast is great with George Kennedy in an Oscar winning role as a prisoner and Strother Martin as the prison warden ("What we've got here is a failure to communicate"). This is a very underrated film that deserves a look from anybody who loves movies. Thanxs...
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Summary: Nobody ebber ate 50 eggs.
Review: I love this movie. I've watched it many times over and am always discovering more depth to the script and screenplay. Paul Newman plays the title character with the cool, easy going grace the part calls for. Cool Hand Luke is content with passing time, just as long as he is given a little elbow room for his independent nature. But he is given no room to manuever by The Man. Just like in "One Flew Over the Cookoos Nest", our hero is bigger and better than their antagonist, except for the fact that time is one the side of the jailor. As in his brutal fight with Dragline (George Kennedy), Luke is fighting with a "hand full of nuthin". His fighting philosophy is like The Clash lyric, "We're gonna fight, till you lose". Luke can take all The Man gives and more, until tragically, his mother dies. The prison warden decides that he must lock Luke down, just when Luke is feeling the most claustrophobic; He needs the opposite. Luke will not bend to the guards intimidation, and the guards will not give Luke the elbow room he so desperately needs. Especially because he is the viewed as an near-deity by the other prisoners. There are many illusions to Luke as Christ. Is Luke an unwilling Christ figure? I don't know. He is to the prisoners. He is viewed as a mythic hero by the other prisoners. He is the best eater, the best worker in the Bull-Gang, the best musician, the best poker player, the best escapee. But his disciples abandon him in this time of greatest need. He is looking for answers from The Man (and I don't mean Boss Godfrey), but gets no reply. Watch for the symbolism throughout. There is also much to enjoy for the casual viewer. This film has many classic scenes and lines. "I ken eat 50 ehhgs", Lucille at the car wash (Oh Baby!), "What we got here is failure to communicate", and "Saying its your job don't make it right, Boss". Paul Newman is easy on the eyes. And the supporting cast, lead by chief disciple George Kennedy, is superb. I also enjoyed the Christian music throughout.
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Summary: The finest film never to win an ocar
Review: Eddie Peabody, known as "King of the Banjo" to millions of banjo fans worldwide for more than half a century, was perhaps the most famous banjo player of all time. His popularity survived two world wars, vaudeville and the great depression. In Eddie, with a shock of corn-yellow hair and small stature (5',5" tall), one could find the full scope and meaning of the banjo played with superb mastery. he was jealous of luke and decided to play the fiddle .Now would you kindly shut your mouth kind sir.
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Summary: THIS MOVIE SHOULD BE IN THE AFI TOP 10!
Review: This movie ranks as one of my TOP FIVE of all time. Classic Paul Newman! Of course! "No one can eat 50 eggs!" and "What we have here is a failure to communicate!" Some of the best lines in this flick ever. George Kennedy, what a role he plays. Keep your eyes peeled for several familiar characters, who later became stars, such as: Ralph Waite (Papa Walton) and Joe Don Baker (Walking Tall). I can't say enough about this movie, I could easily talk about it forever. The ensemble cast, the storyline, the prison, the road gang, the heat, that song about the plastic Jesus.........If you like Paul Newman, and you have not seen this film....BUY IT NOW!
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Summary: Classic Film
Review: what can i say about this film? Paul Newman is Cool to the Bone as is George Kennedy.Paul Newman is a Can't miss in this Film.He handles the Film from start to finish.as Cliche' as this might sound it's one of those roles he was born to play.the Chain Gang isn't the same with Cool Hand Luke around.a must see film.very well Acted&Directed.
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Summary: what we have here is a failure to communicate...
Review: If you've ever heard that phrase and wonder where it came from, it came from this classic movie. A tragic story of nice guy who is too much of a wise-acre for his own good. After he cuts the heads off of parking meters during a drunk spree, Luke wakes up in a hell-hole of a prison w/ prison guards and wardens that are sadistic disciplinarians. Luke can play the game and survive if he wants, but he'd rather keep his dignity. Stupendous acting by all performers and Newman's look of total innocence through-out adds to the appeal of the character and the film. Lots of funny moments, but lots more tragic and poignant moments. Makes you think twice about drinking... that's for sure. ;-p Oscar nominations galore and scenes you'll never forget. This is a must-see.
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Summary: Buy this film
Review: Bought this film largely on the reviews here. Being fairly young I haven't seen many films where Newman was establishing himself. He puts on a fantastic performance here. Basically the standard rebel film except Newman doesn't act without a cause. Put into jail for a seemingly minor violation now, the system he encounters grates against his nature. You watch as the system wears him down and he wears the system down. In the end it is a kind of stalemate where both win and both lose. George Kennedy, who I admit seems like more of a comedy side from the movies I've seen, is just unbelievable. It is a shame he hasn't played more dramatic roles. Lovely film.
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Summary: COOL HAND LUKE ROCKS
Review: My kid saw it. Her teacher showed it to her class and that is a good present to give her for her birthday.
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Summary: My favorite movie of all time.
Review: And I really mean it. They used to show this film often on the Superstation. When I was twelve, I watched it; the next time it came on, I taped it, and watched it probably more than 50 times over the next few years (I didn't know for a long time that the TV version has several scenes cut out for length, so getting it on video was a new revelation). What is it about "Cool Hand Luke" that is so moving? Well, it starts with Paul Newman's performance. Lucas Jackson is one of the most psychologically complex characters in the history of cinema, and Newman, criminally denied the Oscar for this film, makes him seem larger-than-life without saying much. Everything that comes out of his mouth is a revelation. The Christ allusions, which are fittingly done, heighten the sense of injustice that Luke is being slowly crucified by the lawmen, simply because he won't bend to their rules. On the surface, Luke seems self-destructive and ignorant, but in repeated watchings of the film, it becomes apparent that Luke is answering to a call that is bigger than the prison, bigger than the bosses, bigger than the law itself. I could go on and on about the myriad other ways in which this film is perfect, but why bother? I only get 1,000 words. Suffice it to say that this is the movie that makes George Kennedy, of all people, seem noble. YOU MUST SEE THIS FILM. The only flaw: I grew up in Georgia, and I can assure you that it is not filmed where it is set. Looks more like the Central Valley of California to me.
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