Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
James Dean at his best as always, 8 Dec 2003
I was 14 when i looked at a saturday matinee film and became struck by a scene on a ferris wheel in which a handsome man showed his pent up feelings for his brother's girlfriend. After that i became hooked on James Dean who seemed the most beautiful,sensitive man ever. I sought out his films (sadly only three), books about him and his television work. While looking over his career i saw his talent was always outstanding. However, it was this role as Cal Trask (the Cain character in a modern update of the Cain and Able story) that was him at his best. It was a crime he did not get an oscar for it and his premature death meant he was unable to see the sucess of 'Rebel without a cause' and 'Giant'. What makes this film more meaningful is how the director, Elia Kazan, described the role of John Steinbeck's Cal being made for Dean. Jimmy being a man who had a troubled relationship with his dad as well as the actor who played his father in the film. It is an amazing film that shows how having quality actors can make a film.
|
|
|
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
talented cast make this film a classic, 29 Mar 2005
East of Eden is one of these films that has been unfairly lost in the space of time, with the myth of one of the stars being bigger than the film. This therefore means that many people have missed out on actually sitting down and witnessing some of the best acting from the 50s 'golden era'. James Dean gives one of the most striking performances I have ever seen-truly inspiring. The story centres around Cal, played by Dean, who is forever in his brother's shadow, and who desperately wants the approval of his father. When he finds out he has been lied to all his life, and that his mother isn't dead but in fact runs a brothel in a nearby town, he causes havoc for the whole family. His intriguing relationship with his brother's girlfriend (played by Julie Harris) is sensitive and innocent, and both actors portray this excellently. All the supporting characters give great performances, all bouncing off each other, and it is in scenes between cal and his brother, and cal and his mother that this is clear. The most striking piece of acting is when (not to give too much of the plot away) Cal finds out that something he had been working on for a long time as a gift for his father was not wanted and his father once again shuns him. Dean crumbles visibly in front of the audiences eyes and clings to his father in a desperate plea to be loved. It is marvellous, and literally had me crying hysterically. The film can be a bit slow moving at times (as to be expected when a lot of the film centres around the farming profession) but Kazan directs his cast brilliantly, making for some stunning scenes, visually.I urge you to see this film, but try to put to the back of your mind Dean's fate and the myth that surrounds him-it is enjoyable as a piece of A-star quality acting that could teach actors around today a lot.
|
|
|
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
East of Eden is Blilliant!, 31 Oct 2002
By A Customer
East of Eden is the story of love, misunderstanding, and overwhelming emotional power. It exceedes beyond the lines of brilliance. It was also the lonely rebels first movie. Elia Kazan is at his best! James Dean is remarkable and electrifying! Stienbeck has written this novel briantly! I have never seen anything like this film in all my life, it definetly go's on my top ten list! East of Eden shows all emotions of life such as love, hate, lonesumness, respect, and Jelousy. East of Eden shows what we all feel in life, and why you can't live without love. East of Eden is dynomight!
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
Make sure you always get what you want with an Amazon.co.uk 
With an Amazon.co.uk 
