I am just now in the first 30 minutes of watching this movie for the first time. So far, I like it. Who do you think gives the better/more exciting performance? So far, I say Curtis, but that could very well be because Lancaster has not been in it that much, and also because Curtis has the more vivid role, so far...
shareTo be fair, Lancaster only appears 20 minutes in; did you change your mind? I'll agree that Curtis is best in show though... this is akin to The Paper Chase where John Houseman has the most iconic part but it's Tim Bottoms who runs with the show as the lead. Good as Lancaster was, it's Curtis who carries the film, has the strongest, most vivid characterization, and handles the idiosyncratic language better, I think...
Golden Hawk
The looks Lancaster gives are spine curdling. But that said, I'm not sure how one curdles a spine.
At the very end when he realizes he's lost his sister, it's like he regresses into childhood and you can see his lip quiver in such a subtle way.
And when he attacks Falco? Holy crap.
As far as who is better, it's an impossible question. Curtis was amazing, there's no doubt about it, but like The hustler, short screen time and dialogue does not at all take away from the brilliance of the role.
This is one of those films where you realize you can't really root for anyone. Like Gus and Walt breaking bad, Gilligan was a huge fan of this film, they're both evil in very different ways. Who is worse? The acting is so damn good, it's impossible to discern.
Didn't know Gillgan was a big fan of SSOS, but I didn't think it was a coincidence that two episodes of BB used A Curtis line for titles (The Cat's In The Bag...and The Bag's in The River)
shareCurtis easily gives the more exciting performance in the film (he has the bigger and showier role), but Lancaster does leave a lasting impression in his shorter screen time. Ultimately, I don't think there's a so-called "better performance" in the film because they were both stellar (including Barbara Nichols). However, I will say Curtis' performance is my favorite.
Hey there, Johnny Boy, I hope you fry!
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