An interesting take on coming of age. Four friends are trying to finish up school, each with a different ideological and political perspective. As each tries to navigate their own issues and troubles they seek comfort and support amongst each other even when their view points may not align. It's complex but deftly handled.
[1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die Progress: 860/1001]
The notes of propaganda here are not lightly hit. Gary Cooper plays the titular York and a surprising amount of the movie is played out well before he heads off to war. The themes of heroism, sacrifice, religion and nationalism are pretty glaring here. There are some scenes and lines of dialog that are wildly propaganda that it does take away from the movie. In yet, despite some of the questionable moralizing and aggrandizing it is still a movie that…
This is a self-filtering film. The type of people that want to sit through a 7 hour, glacially paced, nihilistic philosophical statement are probably going to rate it highly. I see nothing special about anything here. It's broadly boring, abusive to its viewers (and to cats), and lifeless. Needless to say, this movie wasn't for me. For a certain film fan who likes their movies moving incredibly slowly and who has a lot of time on their hands, I guess maybe its not the worst thing in the world.
[1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die Progress: 570/1001]
What has always stuck with me about Aguirre, and why it grew in my estimation over the years, is the crazy on-location shooting and Kinski's legendary portrayal of the the madman Aguirre. I thought I may have underrated it when I first reviewed it, but on re-watch I am stuck on the same problems. Herzog has a unique vision that relies heavily on allegory. It does get a bit tedious. This is pure, undiluted, Herzog with all his favorite motifs…
