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Death of a Salesman
Salesman Willy Loman is in a crisis. He's about to lose his job, he can't pay his bills, and his sons Biff and Happy don't respect him and can't seem to live up to their potential. He wonders what went wrong and how he can make things up to his family.
Release : | 1985 |
Rating : | 7.2 |
Studio : | Neue Bioskop Film, Roxbury Productions, Punch Productions, |
Crew : | Art Direction, Production Design, |
Cast : | Dustin Hoffman Kate Reid John Malkovich Stephen Lang Charles Durning |
Genre : | Drama TV Movie |
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Sorry, this movie sucks
Save your money for something good and enjoyable
This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.
When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.
Many people think this play is a depressing tragedy with Willy being a loser. Most of the story is this. But at the climax...BIFF (at the peak of his fury): Pop, I'm nothing! I'm nothing, Pop. Can't you understand that? There's no spite in it any more. I'm just what I am, that's all. (Biffs fury has spent itself, and he breaks down, sobbing, holding on to Willy, who dumbly fumbles for Biff's face.)WILLY (after a long pause, astonished, elevated): Isn't that— isn't that remarkable? Biff — he likes me! LINDA: He loves you, Willy!HAPPY (deeply moved): Always did, Pop. WILLY: Oh, Biff! (Staring wildly.) He cried! Cried to me. (He is choking with his love, and now cries out his promise.) That boy — that boy is going to be magnificent!and at the requiem CHARLEY You don't understand: Willy was a salesman. And for a salesman, there is no rock bottom to the life. He don't put a bolt to a nut, he don't tell you the law or give you medicine. He's man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a Shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back — that's an earthquake. And then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you're finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory.So Willy has been "riding on a smile and a Shoeshine". But Willy and his "problem son" Biff finally make the peace they've been trying for all their lives: "He is choking with his love". I think Willy committed suicide rather than start fighting with everyone again. He's a winner for the first time, with his house paid off and his family all loving each other at last. What a better time to end his play.
A thought-provoking, heartfelt and tragic story that is based on a Pulitzer Prize winning play, Death of a Salesman is a very compelling character study of an aging man who is blinded by his pride, integrity and overly-ambitious goals he carries for his eldest son. The film expertly evokes themes of work, love, family and fatherhood, as an old salesman struggles to cope with the emptiness of his life, while also constantly being tormented by his own personal frustration and disappointment. Dustin Hoffman gives an outstanding performance in the leading role and is accompanied by a strong supporting cast, with John Malkovich and Kate Reid being particularly noteworthy, as all the characters are key in contributing to the overall moral of the story. However, perhaps the most interesting aspect presented in Death of a Salesman is that it does not seem to invite one to sympathize with the characters and their fate, but rather hopes for the audience to observe the struggles of life and use the film's profoundly touching story as a tool for learning and reflection.
Certainly not the definitive version of this classic play about the American Dream morphing into mental illness, but worth your time because of the power of the performances and the underlying drama itself. Dustin Hoffman's quirks and enthusiasm represent a slightly different take on Willy Loman – many others see the character as more phlegmatic – but it's an effective characterization. As his wife Kate Ried does a more than serviceable job, but it's hard to believe she's married to this guy – their physical types just don't match. Furthermore she delivers some of her more powerful dialog sitting in a chair, a static staging that the director must be blamed for. Other performances are very strong, including Charles Durning's Charly who blends equal doses of frustration and sympathy for Willy's plight. Durning's the character who may best understand not who Willy really is, but the pain the man feels. Jon Polito and Linda Kozlowski are great in their one-scene appearances, and Stephan Lang is good as the emotionally stunted younger son. But this edition of salesman best showcases John Malkovich as the older boy Bif who experiences the play's closest beat to real revelation. (Even his "younger" self in high school is believable, at least within the context of a filmed play.) Free of mannerisms that sometimes characterize his latter work, Malkovich genuinely conveys the outrage and, then, sympathy provoked by his father. He's the strongest acting element in this rendition of a play that is sound, timeless, meaningful, and a real American classic.
This is an adaptation of a 1949 Arthur Miller's play with the same name. Willy Loman is a salesman who is facing financial, domestic and health problem in the twilight hours of his life. Its supposed to an American classic and I must say it is. There are a few plays or novels which are so fantastic to see or read. The play is instant knowledge. Its like one of those instant energy drinks you read/watch it and you know why it is a classic. Any decent adaptation of the play would be great but this film is really great. I liked the treatment. Its just full of dialogs and actors. The director has not changed the play because the film medium. That's why it looks like a play with film like sets. There is not a single moment where you feel you are watching a film. It's obvious from the first scene that you are watching a play. I think this is one of the best adaptation of a play I have seen so far. Hoffman has done a wonderful job. Initially I though 47 years old Hoffman with makeup was not convincing with Kate Reid as her wife but as the film grows on you it doesn't matter at all. I liked the story so much. It's so realistic.All the actors are very good. I think its a must watch for experimental film viewers. what a great play.