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The Great SantiniRating:
Release Date: 03 February, 2004 Retail Price: $9.98 OUR Price: $9.98 You SAVE: $0.00! Cast: Complete Cast (12 total) |
The Great Santini Reviews
Falls short
Robert Duvall is great. There is no questioning his supremacy among all actors. One of his greatest roles was that of a looney marine in Apocalypse Now. I don't know if Apocalyse precedes or follows the great Santini. However, if it precedes, then Santini is a poor exploitation of a great character for Duvall.
This movie portrays an extremely demanding and unforgiving father of four kids. It shows Duvall's character's strengths of leadership and drive are his greatest weaknesses when transferred to his private family life.
The movie is very sentimental and has moments of trajedy and requisite humor. However, it fails to really push Duvall's character to the greatness he deserves. In the end, it is just a bland sort of family movie.
a very good movie
I saw this movie when I was 25 years old, about the same age as Michael O'Keefe, a very good young actor. I agree with another reviewer that his range of emotions ... anger, love, compassion, were superbly expressed. I think he should have won the best supporting Oscar at the time, but instead the Academy gave it to Timothy Hutton for Ordinary People (another fabulous young actor). And Robert Duvall, of course, brilliant as always.
I have seen the movie several times, and each time it reminds me of two struggles by Duvall: dominance over everyone around him, and a struggle of masculinity between father and son (Duvall and O'Keefe).
This struggle is interesting study of a father who is very proud but yet threatened, by the manly sensitiveness, athletic ability, and spunk of his own son.
The first indication of this is when they are playing basketball together. O'Keefe is a typical vigorous 17-year-old (almost 18), expertly dribbling and shooting Duvall into increased anger and frustation. I think that the very quick whack that Duvall gave O'Keefe's butt as O'Keefe was slightly bending over, very skillfully dribbling the ball away from Duvall, was the first indication that he's his father .. and the boss. And you don't embarrass the boss by beating him. I was even thinking, because Duvall was such a jerk -- please Michael, let your father win!
Next, that terrible scene that is performed so well -- when Duvall, furious that O'Keefe will not relent to giving him a two point extension, stadiscally bobs the ball on O'Keefe's head, humiliating him and calling him his favorite girl. O'Keefe retaliates by yelling that "this girl whipped your ass good, Colonel!". I thought that Duvall would start physically fighting with his son for being smart, but the retort was so smart, that it left Duvall silent and paralyzed.
Those two had chemistry, and were truly great together. Watch it, the performances will move you as much as the story of a typical but challenged, military family.
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