Cool Hand Luke (1967)

Since Cool Hand Luke (1967) is responsible for my blogspot title, my opinion of the film is pretty obvious and  it makes sense for it to be my first formal review.  I own the film on blu-ray and tend to watch it every few months, so a quick watch again for the review was easy enough.

The film follows Luke Jackson, a prisoner in a southern chain-gang with a free spirit full of rebellion against authority.  As the movie progresses, The other inmates rally around Luke's cool demeanor as he continually tries to escape from the prison.  In an attempt to stop his disobedience, the camp staff fights to squelch Luke's spirit.  The conflict between Luke and the authority depicts the struggle for man's free will in the confines of social norms.

44/50 Eggs

This movie can unquestionably be called a classic.  It is among the top performances by Newman in his vast career of success.  George Kennedy as Dragline is majestic, and fully deserves the Oscar he got for Best Supporting Actor.  The balance between Dragline's rash mannerisms and Luke's smooth demeanor cause great comedic relief and make the friendship between the two very enjoyable to watch.  The soundtrack compliments the rustic, gritty setting of the film very well, and Dennis Hopper and Harry Dean Stanton, flesh out the film with memorable lines here and there.  Allusions to Christ tend to get a little overwhelming, however prove the worth of the film as more than a movie about a guy in a prison.  I highly recommend this film to anyone.