tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post382920914737945706..comments2024-01-11T05:02:32.321-05:00Comments on Goodfella's Movie Blog: #21: The Reckless Moment (Max Ophüls, 1949)Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07134196370913749544noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-44576064900669458202010-04-04T10:37:23.626-04:002010-04-04T10:37:23.626-04:00Thanks, Sam... this is definitely a great one. I&...Thanks, Sam... this is definitely a great one. I'm just glad that I have been able to see it, as I know it's not the easiest film to come back since it lacks a proper release here in the States.<br /><br />Happy Easter to you and whole Juliano clan as well, Sam!Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07134196370913749544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-69811141088987751582010-04-04T08:53:39.606-04:002010-04-04T08:53:39.606-04:00"No matter how the performances come across, ..."No matter how the performances come across, the stars remain Ophüls and his brilliant cinematographer Burnett Guffey."<br /><br />I quite agree Dave, and I vigorously applaud your selection of this very great film, a noir of exceeding excellence, but one of world cinema's most towering figures. I could watch this film any time in any place, and am engrossed in it from the get go over and over. Mason and Bennett are indeed superlative (it's one of Bennett's two great Hollywood performances--the other one I know will be appearing on this countdown) and like Mason's it's multi-leveled. It is no surprise that these great stylist, one of the cinema's greatest auteurs, would also craft one of noir's finest hours. Hence I also commend you for this great passage here:<br /><br />"From the few Ophüls films that I have seen, I immediately know that he is in the director’s chair once the camera starts moving as if the man were a deity in control of every element on the screen. He essentially does the same thing here, sweeping the camera across various lights, darks, shadows, and landscapes that Guffey composes."<br /><br />Happy Easter Dave, to you and yours!Sam Julianonoreply@blogger.com