Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Bookmark this pageThe Front (1976)
Director: Martin Ritt
Movie review
From Time Out Film Guide
Woody Allen, miscast in his first straight role (as a schnook who lends his name to blacklisted writers for ten percent of the take, eventually coming under scrutiny himself), struggles through a reenactment of the communist witch-hunting of the '50s. Although made by those who suffered blacklisting at first hand, the film pulls all its political punches, settling instead for sentimental narrative. Its suggestion that each individual can buck the brutality of political oppression by standing up against the bullies lies squarely in the great reactionary tradition: 'a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do' replaces political analysis, and turns the film into an empty monument to the senility of American liberalism.Author: SM
User reviews of this film
-
- Zach said...
- Posted on Jan 28 2010 17:01 Who wrote that review? You're an empty monument to the pretentious ignorance and arrogance of post-imperial British culture.
- Report as inappropriate
-
- LJ said...
- Posted on Jan 01 2010 21:42 I completely disagree with this review. I think that this is a film that personalizes the blacklist by letting us in on how the blacklist actually effected people. Plus, it has an absolutely remarkable performance by Zero Mostel - a performance that makes the film worth watching for that reason alone!
- Report as inappropriate
Cast & crew
Director: Martin Ritt
Producer: Martin Ritt
Cast: Woody Allen, Zero Mostel, Herschel Bernardi, Michael Murphy, Andrea Marcovicci, Remak Ramsay, Lloyd Gough full cast
Duration: 95 mins
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Has David Cronenberg turned tame?
Has director David Cronenberg veered too far from his radical and bloody roots with new film 'A Dangerous Method'?
The 10 worst date movies
Just in time for Valentine's Day, we present ten of the least romantic films ever made
Where to watch this year's Oscar-nominated films
Find out where to watch 2012's Oscar-nominated films in London cinemas
10 unlikely badboy biopics
Featuring Phil Collins, Jeremy Clarkson, Nick Clegg, David Starkey and a host of other unlikely subjects
Interview: Sean Durkin on 'Martha Marcy May Marlene'
The first-time director of the brilliant new thriller discusses religious cults and robot boxing
Pop-up cinema for Valentine's Day
Side-step romantic clichés with some alternative Valentine’s viewing
What do you think?
Post your review now