JohnDoe
Bryn
BrentonJohn Doe’s favourite Sydney Pollack Films.
May 28th 2008 00:05
15 great Films - A salute to Sydney Pollack.
Sydney Pollack as he lived
“I mean, I don't know anything else that I would try to do, but it's a very frustrating thing to do, because you are trying to take what's a fantasy in your head and make it live through the minds of 200 people.” – Sydney Pollack
A massive loss to the world of cinema, today consummate Actor/Producer/Director Sydney Pollack succumbed to cancer at the age of 73. A huge influence on young Doe’s early ventures into more thoughtful cinema, Pollack was always concerned with the human experience and an omnipresent society that forced character catastrophes.
Taking home Best Director and Best Picture for the year 1987, Out of Africa (1986) won Pollack 2 Oscars in one evening. Viewing any of his adventures in celluloid reveals insightful and evocative character moments, coming from emotive and imaginative visual storytelling.
Not to be ignored - Sydney Pollack the actor in Michael Clayton
Starting his classy career as a TV Director for hire he worked on classics like The Fugitive, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour and Ben Casey. Making his feature film debut with The Slender Thread, (1965) based around a “Suicide hot line” the film is an impressive debut that is rewarding despite over simplifying of a complex problem.
Trying to choose John Doe’s personal favourite is more intense than being hunted by secret government assassins, or even sticking your tongue down Barbara Streisand’s throat.
“I mean, movies are like your kids or your fingers and toes or something, it's pretty hard to pick favourites.” – Sydney Pollack
The Director chats to his distant star
In a corner, the teaming of actor Robert Redford (The Way We Were, This Propertry is Condemned, Havana etc) with the Director created some of his greatest triumphs. The espionage story Three Days of the Condor deserves to be mentioned first for the sheer cunning of its tight pacing and unbroken tension. Watching it today it still retains its intelligence and prophetically echoes truth. (Read John Doe’s full review of Three Days of the Condor by clicking HERE)
Director Sydney Pollack talks about Three Days of The Condor
Jeremiah Johnson is the complete antithesis of Condor save the starring Redford credit. Turning his back on the technologies and machinations of early frontier culture, it’s about a mountain man’s survival against nature and natives. Capturing the mood and rhythm of the wilderness in its cinematography this expressive tome uses minimal dialogue to tell a universal examination of our primal will to live.
Director Sydney Pollack talks about Jeremiah Johnson
See the poetic opening minutes of Jeremiah Johnson
Sneaking in at an honourable number 3 is The Yakuza starring Robert Mitchum. Samurai swords and triad gangsters set this gentle tale of redemption, sacrifice and love in motion. Respectfully staged to genuinely observe the clashing cultural ideals of Japan and the US, this introspective film achieves a quiet nod to its subject. (To read John Doe’s full review of The Yakuza click HERE)
That’s Johnny’s top 3 and here are the remainder of his favourite films Directed by Sydney Pollack.
They shoot horses dont they?
4. They Shoot Horses, Don't They?
5. Bobby Deerfield
6. The Electric Horseman
7. Out of Africa
8. The Slender Thread
9. Havana
10. Absence of Malice
11. This Property Is Condemned
12. Tootsie
13. The Way We Were
14. The Scalphunters
15. Castle Keep
Sydney Pollack you will be missed, hope your now seated in that big cinema in the sky having a laugh with Kubrick, Hitchcock and Welles
| 145 |
| Vote |
Shared on
Add To: 
Subscribe to this blog
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
I'll first remember him as the agent in Tootsie ... but as a director he was consummate. The Yakuza. Very fitting, as I've just been watching Takashi Miike's own Yakuza films of late ... (with more to come)
Comment by James Rickard
unlucky_ fishermen.com
Angling Fish
As both a director AND actor, Sydney Pollack will be missed!
Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
Science News
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Comment by David O'Connell
Screen Fanatic
Absence of Malice is not a bad film either and of course Out of Africa is just beautiful.
I've always wanted to see The Yakuza but haven't as yet.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Have you seen Pollack's The Yakuza? I picked it up for $7.95 at JB Hi Fi when it came out earlier in the year...an essential bargain!
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Pollack was certainly an actors Director, I think 18 of his stars were nominated for Oscars over the course ofg his career....he was talented as a thespian too....lets not forget his dynamite skills as a producer too.
Again thanks for the nod on a post that was very near to my heart.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I find Tootsie very dated and heavy handed, but many seem to love it. Not that its a bad film but it doesn't give me laughs like it used to anymore.
May I recommend Jeremiah Johnson, arguably Pollacks ultimate masterpiece!
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
It's getting creepy how similar our tastes are
I watched 3 Days of the Condor a few months back at it still gripped and entertained, feels fresh like it was shot last year with an eye for historical accuracy.
Did you click the link and read the review I wrote?
That conversation in the trunk of the car in Steven Soderberg's Out of Sight is spot on with the Dunaway/Redford hook up speed.
Out of Africa has a majestic quality for sure, its lush look pulls you in and you really get taken somewhere else.
I'm a big Robert Mitchum fan and The Yakuza is one of his last brilliant character roles. Pollacks instructions are carefully toned and the results are moody and involving.
Great to see you round these parts.
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Like a chess game.
Loved it.
I wonder how it has aged over the years.
Tootsie was really funny. An easy story to mess up but was handled so well.
Yakuza is an old favorite. I still have fond memories of Robert Mitchim as an actor. Better than these wooden new fancy boys. Tough guys should always look tough.
Comment by mr_tza
Guru of Film
Comment by Dustin
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Out of Africa is truly my favourite, though I do love The Way We Were and Horses.
Sydney will always live on through my DVD player.
Mich
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
the DVD of 3 days of the Condor has a terrific transfer, the sound is superb. Well worth tracking down. Last time I saw it at JB it was $12.95. i found it still felt fresh after all these years.
Tootsie could have been a disaster, as it is it feels dated but still important.
Cool to meet another fan of Mitch and The Yakuza. Agreed the lacl of stone faced tough guys is sad.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
lets not forget his eye for quality as a Producer either. Awesome that I'm not alone in loving Jeremiah Johnson.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Out of Africa is so gorgeous to look at and I own the sumptuous soundtrack.
They Shoot Horses don't They is chronically under seen, such an important film.