MovieChat Forums > The Sand Pebbles (1966) Discussion > Does anyone else not like the Sand Pebbl...

Does anyone else not like the Sand Pebbles...

posted 14 years ago by ThatGuyWoody
5 replies | jump to latest

Steve McQueen is in this film, and that's already a great start. He was a talented and memorable actor. With a strong emotional intelligence, he could portray an interesting character, react to the other actors and world he was thrown into and say more than most actors could with the same lines. But with that said, his performance here feels flat and less engaging than other films I've loved him in. Of course there are scenes and parts where I think his talent shines, speaking about the parts of the boat scene as well as the "Steam" part. But in the bulk of the movie scenes feel shallow. Namely his date with the always smiley Candice Bergen. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avShicv_Y90)

Sometimes I just can't figure out what kind of accent Steve is doing. It's like he's laying on a thicker American accent, which I don't know how to explain. His delivery and tone just sound either simplistic or off to me. If you think I'm imagining it, please don't share that with me, we'll both just consider the other unable to properly interpret emotions in voice.

Past this performance, I find the surrounding cast doesn't help. The ship's captain is boring and predictable cliche. Most of the crew to act like characters that are not as stupider than McQueen, and with out some sort of conflict or challenge from another strong character, I feel that McQueen has nothing to do.

The overture is nice. But the music also feels suffocating through the film.

Running out of time here. Would appreciate feedback and arguments. Thanks.

[–] joscco 14 years ago

You either appreciate a period piece where a rugged individualist plays out his string in an exotic land being torn apart by revolution, feel the tension build as the fuse burns down on the powder keg, or you don't.

"I told you it was off." The Jackal

[–] Etherdave 12 years ago

Clearly the film is not to the Original Poster's tastes. Perhaps the poster could offer some good examples of similar epic period films, where the producers, the director, the principal cast, the supporting cast, and the music composer got it all, in the poster's opinion...right?

[–] phillipsdan83 11 years ago

THE SAND PEBBLES is one of my favorite movies, but we don't all like the same things. I've always thought THE LAST EMPEROR is a thinly disguised Communist propaganda piece whose secondary message is "look how enlightened Communism took this worthless imperialistic parasite and turned him into a useful gardener"...and I'm sure there's plenty of people who would disagree!

[–] jpmkam 11 years ago

...that are not as stupider than McQueen

LOL. Great movie, great cast and well directed.

[–] rready4198-693-489748 11 years ago

You must have been expecting something different than what you saw and felt. I did not feel Steve was flat...that seemly was the character. He had high moral standards and that is more than I can say for most of them. It was just different than what you had seen him play. That is probably why he did it because it was different. He was nominated for an Academy Award. I do not know if you saw "Lord Jim" with Peter O'Toole because it was over in Asia too. I personally liked Jake just the way he played him.