The Last Tycoon
F. Scott Fitzgerald's fascinating tale of studio politics in early Hollywood is breathtakingly brought to the screen by director Elia Kazan and screenwriter Harold Pinter. Robert DeNiro heads a powerhouse cast as studio head Monroe Stahr, a thinly disguised Irving Thalberg character in command of his studio but haunted by a love lost to his past.
Tony Curtis, Robert Mitchum, Jenne Moreau, Theresa Russell, Anjelica Huston and Jack Nicholson contribute stirring supporting performances to this richly detailed '30s-era gem.
Member Reviews
Missed opportunity - Poet
I was expecting the reviews I had read about this movie to be unjustified when I sat down in front of my TV set last night to watch it. I mean, I often find myself not agreeing with other people's assessments of movies.
But, in this case, the reviews were right: this movie, although not a bad one, is lacking something.
It had the ingredients for a great cinematic feast. Great director (Kazan), super cast (De Niro, Nicholson, Mitchum, to name a few) and a story based on a novel by a great author.
Yet, in the end, the movie falls flat. The acting lacks passion, the story lacks rythm and my interest was starting to fade as it went along.
I recommend a viewing, even if it is just to see two greats (De Niro and Nicholson) in their only collaboration together on the silver screen. There are some good moments all through this flick, but not enough to make it as great as it should have been.
A missed opportunity to say the leastLacking Something - Jimmy_Jam
Robert De Niro and Elia Kazan. Just those 2 alone should have made this a classic film, but it does have to battle with the novel which is never easy. The film is stacked with actors, which is definately its strong point, but the plot just isnt all that interesting. There are some great lines dealing with the inside of the movie business, but thats mainly what it is: weighed down by dialogue. See it if you like Deniro and Kazan.No point to it. - Malickfan86
Adpated from F. Scott Fitzgerald's unfinished novel, screenwriter Pinter and director Kazan make that blatantly obvious. For those who do not know, De Niro plays Monroe Stahr, the head of an unnamed Hollywood studio during the mid-30s. His life is completely devoted to his work until, one day, he meets Katherine Moore, a girl he is immediately infatuated with. He eventually meets with her and continues to approach her despite her constant objections. They eventually fall for each other and have a passionate love affair to an eventually doomed relationship.
The film in the end is about the impact Moore has on Stahr. What we begin to witness is Stahr's life spiralling out of control once Moore has gone. In the end, however, the point of the film is inconclusive. There is nothing to suggest that Stahr will continue his out-of-control ways and he walks away with nothing. There is no doubt in my mind that Fitzgerald wanted a more conclusive ending for his book where an impact is actually felt.
The love story as well is quite hollow and ineffective. This is the type of film that takes a few gestures and sentimental quotes to mean love. There was chemistry among the two leads, but the fact still remained in my mind that this was a superficial attraction. The script could have achieved love between the characters, but it lacked in their development. The fact that this was a "love at first sight" relationship does not help it, either.
I would still recommend a viewing, however. Although very flawed and incomplete, there are several worthy things about the production. The production values are quite definitive, as one would expect for a Kazan and De Niro teaming. Of course, De Niro gives another beautiful performance. Something else that not many realize is that in this film, two of Hollywood's greatest living actors meet on-screen. Robert De Niro and Jack Nicholson share some limited screen-time, yet it is appropriately marked with awkwardness and comedy
Member Reviews
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Missed opportunity - Poet
I was expecting the reviews I had read about this movie to be unjustified when I sat down in front of my TV set last night to watch it. I mean, I often find myself not agreeing with other people's assessments of movies.
But, in this case, the reviews ...Lacking Something - Jimmy_Jam
Robert De Niro and Elia Kazan. Just those 2 alone should have made this a classic film, but it does have to battle with the novel which is never easy. The film is stacked with actors, which is definately its strong point, but the plot just isnt all that interesting. ...No point to it. - Malickfan86
Adpated from F. Scott Fitzgerald's unfinished novel, screenwriter Pinter and director Kazan make that blatantly obvious. For those who do not know, De Niro plays Monroe Stahr, the head of an unnamed Hollywood studio during the mid-30s. His life is completely ...