Reviews (2)

Solid!
Oliver Reed is very good - even if he doesn't dub his own voice here. (Still waiting for an uncut, widescreen US release of 'The Devils'.) Fabio Testi also holds his own, if you can overlook the voice actor's mediocre performance. (If Jeremy Irons were a pretty-boy matinee idol he'd look just like Fabio Testi. Check him out in 'What Have You Done to Solange?' - an EXCELLENT giallo.)The Morricone score is wonderful as always, and the cinematography is great. Some may not be able to get past certain elements that come with the territory with these Italian ones. (The dubbing, for instance.) Too bad for them. These movies are actually cinematic - while Hollywood movies have become big TV. There are no jarring elements or rough edges - no risk, nothing new, nothing of real interest. That's why I stopped going. Or maybe I'm just getting old. I like the atmospherics, the stylish grace notes and the willingness to risk offence - the charming moments of (probably) unintentional humor that one encounters don't shut me down for the movie. And in Italian cinema the adherence to a formula is often liberating in the particulars. "Suspiria", for example, had a plot that could have been written by a six year old - ... For all the familiar genre moves - that movie doesn't look like any other movie ever.

This is a well-paced, character driven actioner with an extra dimension of humanity that one might not expect - credit director Sergio Sollima for that. In most current American action movies the hero is pretty much invincible, and if anyone dies the movie barely notices - not that you'd care, anyway. This leaves endless scenes of explosions - servicably photographed from multiple angles so they will cut with the hyper-MTV editing that is supposed to trick the audience into thinking that something is actually going on on the screen. Its like watching an oversized video game that you're not allowed to play yourself. I'd fall asleep if these things weren't so noisy.

'Revolver' seems to take place in a different universe. People don't just disappear the moment they die, as if they never existed. They may be given an elgaic send-off or haunt the movie later with the reprecussions of their passing. In one scene a bleeding bystander, who really means nothing to the story, begs for help before the main characters and the movie leave him to expire in the street. As cold as that sounds, its not nearly as cold as the grand-scale bloodless Hollywood meyhem that passes for entertainment and doesn't seem to offend anyone. I'm making more out of it than the movie itself does - but entertainment that acknowledges the negative effects that violence has on human life is just about unheard of these days. This made 'Revolver' stand out for me.

That said, this IS just an engaging thriller that fulfills it's modest ambitions and leaves you feeling satisfied. Its not any more believable than others of its ilk, and its not trying to change anyone's life. Its just a movie - but actual movies are rare these days.

A nice change of pace
I've never seen a movie quite like Revolver. The best descriptor I can muster is "spaghetti thriller". It's a seventies crime drama with a bit of Dirty Harry, a helping of Reservoir Dogs, a few drops of eau de western, a scoop of melodrama, and a dash of political commentary. Though it oscillates between boredom and epic, Revolver delivers the kind of entertainment that today's movies can only parody. If you buy into the characters, you'll be treated to a satisfying drama. If modern sensibilities prevent that, you can at least enjoy the campier aspects and delight in the commanding score.

I may be cynical, but sometimes I look at my DVD collection and see 50 copies of the same movie. Explosions, love interest, conservative "twist" ending, cut! Revolver may be just as derivative of 1970's flicks as the explosion fests of the 21st century are today, but for some reason it was refreshing to watch. I can't see anyone lavishing "rabid fanboy" praise on it, but Revolver was enjoyable, moving at times, and had two great performances. If you thirst for a change of pace, but want to retain the comfortable action standbys of guns and violence, Revolver may be right up your alley. The fantastic extras don't hurt either. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Moving, lyrical film
This is the rarest of films -- action and violence are present, certainly -- yet, due to the vulnerability of the protagonist, a young boy, the viewer is "brought into" the film in a way that is impossible with the macho, untouchable action heroes that frequently litter such films. The tension and suspense is offset by a lyricism also not present in most "action" films. Ultimately, this is a beautiful, life-affirming film wrapped up in the guise of an action film. A unique film -- don't miss it.

Mediocre
Little boy witnesses his entire family gunned down in a small Italian village. He must flee from pursuers and police to save his life, and any chance of creating a family of his own. This film attempts to blend foreign sensitivity with American, "Peckinpah" violence. Although the pacing of this film is enthralling, it fails to create enough tension to keep the viewer interested. Although it may be recognized as an achievement in Europe, it fails to deliver the potent suspenseful moments promised.

An auspicious debut!
This film has suspense, beautiful cinematography, a haunting score and a real sense of style on the part of it's first time director. Well worth taking a look at! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Gary Cooper-esque Spaghetti Western
A pimp, a preacher, a bandit, a bully, a disgraced officer, and a beautiful woman form a tense alliance for profit in this surprisingly good Italian-made Western. The date of release can't be right (1971) since Jeffrey Hunter died in 1969. 1968 is more likely, making it one of his last films. Hunter is excellent in his role as Mr. Collins, creating a character one could see Gary Cooper handling in his prime. The cast adds flavor to the story as the ruffians Hunter is surrounded by look more like menacing real-life thugs than actors.
I've seen many Spaghetti Westerns, so many that I've begun looking at more obscure ones to satisfy my appetite. When I found this one, I'd never heard of it and my expectations were low. Ten minutes into it changed that. The musical score is one of the best themes I've ever heard in this genre. Except for Hunter the cast was unknown to me, but each was very effective. The conflict between Collins and Paco was quite cool. Hunter's performance displays just how much his premature death robbed us of a fine leading man. I highly recommend this movie to any Western fan. ... Read more

Description

Kidnappers have snatched the wife of violent prison warden Oliver Reed and demand the release of inmate Fabio Testi as ransom. But when the warden allows his prisoner to escape, the two become trapped in a deadly conspiracy that reaches from the halls of government to the bullet-riddled city streets. Can an obsessed lawman and an escaped convict survive the forces of corruption as well as each other, or does the ultimate law of society belong to the revolver? Released in America as "Blood in the Streets" (with the immortal tagline "Makes 'Death Wish' look like wishful thinking!"), this suspenseful crime thriller was co-written and directed by the legendary Sergio Sollima (Violent City, Run Man Run) and features a pounding score by maestro Ennio Morricone. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Solid!
Oliver Reed is very good - even if he doesn't dub his own voice here. (Still waiting for an uncut, widescreen US release of 'The Devils'.) Fabio Testi also holds his own, if you can overlook the voice actor's mediocre performance. (If Jeremy Irons were a pretty-boy matinee idol he'd look just like Fabio Testi. Check him out in 'What Have You Done to Solange?' - an EXCELLENT giallo.)The Morricone score is wonderful as always, and the cinematography is great. Some may not be able to get past certain elements that come with the territory with these Italian ones. (The dubbing, for instance.) Too bad for them. These movies are actually cinematic - while Hollywood movies have become big TV. There are no jarring elements or rough edges - no risk, nothing new, nothing of real interest. That's why I stopped going. Or maybe I'm just getting old. I like the atmospherics, the stylish grace notes and the willingness to risk offence - the charming moments of (probably) unintentional humor that one encounters don't shut me down for the movie. And in Italian cinema the adherence to a formula is often liberating in the particulars. "Suspiria", for example, had a plot that could have been written by a six year old - ... For all the familiar genre moves - that movie doesn't look like any other movie ever.

This is a well-paced, character driven actioner with an extra dimension of humanity that one might not expect - credit director Sergio Sollima for that. In most current American action movies the hero is pretty much invincible, and if anyone dies the movie barely notices - not that you'd care, anyway. This leaves endless scenes of explosions - servicably photographed from multiple angles so they will cut with the hyper-MTV editing that is supposed to trick the audience into thinking that something is actually going on on the screen. Its like watching an oversized video game that you're not allowed to play yourself. I'd fall asleep if these things weren't so noisy.

'Revolver' seems to take place in a different universe. People don't just disappear the moment they die, as if they never existed. They may be given an elgaic send-off or haunt the movie later with the reprecussions of their passing. In one scene a bleeding bystander, who really means nothing to the story, begs for help before the main characters and the movie leave him to expire in the street. As cold as that sounds, its not nearly as cold as the grand-scale bloodless Hollywood meyhem that passes for entertainment and doesn't seem to offend anyone. I'm making more out of it than the movie itself does - but entertainment that acknowledges the negative effects that violence has on human life is just about unheard of these days. This made 'Revolver' stand out for me.

That said, this IS just an engaging thriller that fulfills it's modest ambitions and leaves you feeling satisfied. Its not any more believable than others of its ilk, and its not trying to change anyone's life. Its just a movie - but actual movies are rare these days.

A nice change of pace
I've never seen a movie quite like Revolver. The best descriptor I can muster is "spaghetti thriller". It's a seventies crime drama with a bit of Dirty Harry, a helping of Reservoir Dogs, a few drops of eau de western, a scoop of melodrama, and a dash of political commentary. Though it oscillates between boredom and epic, Revolver delivers the kind of entertainment that today's movies can only parody. If you buy into the characters, you'll be treated to a satisfying drama. If modern sensibilities prevent that, you can at least enjoy the campier aspects and delight in the commanding score.

I may be cynical, but sometimes I look at my DVD collection and see 50 copies of the same movie. Explosions, love interest, conservative "twist" ending, cut! Revolver may be just as derivative of 1970's flicks as the explosion fests of the 21st century are today, but for some reason it was refreshing to watch. I can't see anyone lavishing "rabid fanboy" praise on it, but Revolver was enjoyable, moving at times, and had two great performances. If you thirst for a change of pace, but want to retain the comfortable action standbys of guns and violence, Revolver may be right up your alley. The fantastic extras don't hurt either. ... Read more