As you've probably heard, Sydney Pollack died today. And although I recognized him as an actor I couldn't remember more than three or four of his eight bazillion projects as a director. So I looked up his IMDB credits, and man are there a lot of great credits on there: The Firm, Out of Africa, Tootsie, The Way We Were, Jeremiah Johnson.
I don't love everything he's ever done, but there is one movie that tops all others for me: Three Days of the Condor.
Robert Redford plays a CIA analyst who is the only survivor of a massacre at his office. And as he tries to figure out who's responsible and who he can trust, the bad guys try to finish what they started by tracking him down.
These days many action movies are all special effects and absurd irrelevant situations (see the new Indiana Jones for examples) but Three Days of the Condor was one dude with no real training relying solely on his instinct and his surroundings to survive each day. No special effects, no crazy stunts, just conflict brought on by story.
You know this guy isn't a kick ass martial artist, so you're really worried about him every time he has to fight for his life against the next professional assassin. Plus he's Robert Redford so he's hot.
The fight scenes are intense because you're caught up in the story. You don't need and crazy impossible stunts.
This is the kind of movie that inspired my desire to write action films.
So as soon as I remembered how much I loved that movie I scrolled through the next week's movies on all the channels that show older movies to see if Three Days of the Condor was airing any time soon, and what do you know, it will be on TMC Tuesday night. So how do you like that?
So thanks, Sydney Pollack. You left behind one hell of an awesome legacy.
I hope when I die I leave one eighth as much awesomeness in my wake.
Gone too soon. Sydney Pollack, the double threat.
ReplyDeleteHe looked strong and virile in Michael Clayton. But now he is gone. Sydney Pollack was a double threat as director and actor and my life as a moviegoer is diminished with his passing.
He directed such landmark films as Jeremiah Johnson, Three Days of the Condor, Tootsie and Out of Africa. It’s unusual to find a director with such unlimited range. He was at the top of his game with both drama and comedy. The only common denominator in his movies was that they were great movies. The kind of movies you actually looked forward to seeing. He knew how to tell a story. He worked with our best actors. He swung for the fences.
Pollack was lesser known as an actor, but he brought gravitas to every role. He was Dustin Hoffman’s sparring partner in Tootsie. He played mid-life crises to perfection in Woody Allen’s Husbands and Wives. And he was downright scary in Eyes Wide Shut.
Director and actor. Maybe only Clint Eastwood can match him as a double threat. Today I read that Pollack passed away at age 73. I couldn’t finish my coffee after reading that.
I don't remember yesterday. Today it rained.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great movie.
It inspired me too.
+1 on inspired by Three Days of the Condor.
ReplyDeleteI've always had a copy around and it just occurred to me- I don't have one now. Gotta hit Ebay.
I'm rewriting it- with a twist, of course! Have you read the novel? SIX Days of the Condor.
Three days on the cutting floor...
"It bothers me that I can't tell people what I do."
ReplyDeleteVery undramatic, dramatic line. That's its appeal, to me. Just part of a quiet conversation.
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A poignant scene is in the clothing shop, where he spots Faye. It's the music playing in the store...an instrumental version of "Hark the Herald Angels Sing", I believe. Everyone else doing Christmas shopping, but poor Bob's character, just trying to stay alive...and figure out his next move.
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Faye's photos, her character's photos. Did you notice them? Neither did Bob, until he had some sleep. With the creative part of his mind restored, he notices a common link. People. There are no people in her photos...