Anyone who used to like this movie but has now changed their mind? - Cool Hand Luke (1967) Discussion

[–] lee1888 13 years ago

Your friends are pretty much right on the mark, this movie is pretty stupid if you set back and really think about it. Luke only got two years in prison, people who just absolutely hate confinements could probably do two years with no sweat. That in itself made this movie completely unbelievable. I watched the film a couple of times but the last few times I watched it I turned it off after the woman washes her car.
I believe what your friends were trying to tell you is only an idiot would act like that who only got two years in prison. I pretty much found the film completely unbelievable just because of that fact.

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[–] fentress 13 years ago

I’m the OP author. I still never have re-watched the movie since I made that posting some years ago! I’m not sure which side I would come down on if I saw it now. The half of me wonders if it isn’t such a good movie takes comfort in hearing your very refreshing perspective.

I will grant that it’s polished, rousing entertainment. I can understand how people like it and get all caught up in the antihero glory of it. But when I stop and think about it rationally that’s when I question it. Maybe the emperor really doesn’t have any clothes on. I can’t help but wonder if perhaps all this highly revered movie does is romanticize someone who’s nothing more than a stupid irresponsible petty troublemaker. I’ll have to see what I think if I ever bother to watch it again.

In answer to my original question though: Judging from the posts this thread has generated, apparently there is no one else who once liked it but has reconsidered.

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[–] denny2100 13 years ago

I'd be interested in know what your friends thought of The Shawshank Redemption?

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[–] fentress 13 years ago

Actually, most of those same friends did in fact like the Shawshank Redemption very much.

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[–] denny2100 13 years ago

That's interesting, but not unexpected. The Shawshank Redemption is an excellent movie. I think the themes and points of Cool Hand Luke and The Shawshank Redemption are very similar. S

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[–] fentress 13 years ago

<SPOILER AHEAD> I could see where Shawshank could have been less problematic. From the beginning, we’re told the main character is innocent. But justice is served in the end. But Cool Hand Luke is more complex. Luke actually did commit a crime and doesn’t seem like an upstanding member of society by conventional standards, so some might not find sympathy for him.

Not to make it sound like Shawshank is a lesser movie though. I agree it’s great.

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[–] westal_sage 12 years ago

I can totally see how that could happen. I saw this for the first time tonight and really wanted to like it, but it just wasn't that good.

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[–] Adolphe_Menjou 12 years ago

As others have noted, I took it as a man who is entirely aware of his autonomy in a place and time where autonomous beings must have a utility. Luke chose not to be useful to anyone other than himself. He was a nonconforming free spirit that, by societal standards, was a born loser, but subjectively by his own standards was a winner at Life. It's difficult to watch this film and not think here is a man who puts passion into everything he does; an observant film that examines a person who is inspired by Life and living in and of itself, despite not having by any means a 'successful' or 'rewarding' one. Luke lives because the alternative-death, will be coming anyway. So he does everything with extreme spirit, even if it means tarring a road or eating 50 eggs. He enjoys the hell out of tarring that road, and he ate every one of those damned eggs. He enjoys Life.

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[–] tired_of_the_net 12 years ago

So let me understand you, you watch the movie with what you think are the "cool kids" and because they are not as smart as you think they are, you are questioning the movie. This is one of the greatest films ever. Your friends are mentally challenged, and so are you for even doubting it. I have no place in my life for dumb whores who need to impress people, so why don't you go over to Perez Hilton's page to find people more on your intellectual level.

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[–] fentress 12 years ago

Okay, I have several comments:

1) I think it's perfectly legitimate that sometimes when you see something through somebody else's eyes, you might be able to understand a view of it that had not occurred to you before. It can be a broadening experience. It can work the other way sometimes too. Maybe you previously thought some movie was mediocre, and when you see it through someone else's eyes you see where one might like it.

2) I didn't say I definitely didn't like CHL any more. I only said I'm questioning my opinion.

3) So anyone is "mentally challenged" if they don't like Cool Hand Luke? If you like it, that's fine. But do you not allow any room for a dissenting view?

4) Your post is very rude. I always welcome views that may differ from my own, but it should be done with respect. Calling some "mentally challenged" is not respectful. Maybe I shouldn't have dignified your post with a response at all. But I figure returning rudeness with civility is the best response.

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[–] justwrite3 12 years ago

I agree with everything you say in that post. Cool Hand Luke is my favorite film, but that doesn't mean you (or your friends) have to regard it as highly.

In one of your posts from a couple of months ago, you said you still hadn't seen the movie again since your original post in this thread (five years ago). Assuming you still haven't, I encourage you to see it again, particularly since you did like it prior to that viewing five years ago. It works so well in every way -- thematically, emotionally, the acting, riveting individual scenes, a solid story arc, everything. I find it to be a compelling, brilliantly told story. It has its flaws, but they are few and far between.

Just to whet your appetite, you should visit the quotes page. Just looking at them made me want to watch it all over again.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061512/trivia?tab=qt&ref_=tt_trv_qu

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[–] fentress 12 years ago

Thanks for the polite and open-minded response. (It's especially refreshing after that last guy!) It's good to know that some people read the posts and take them seriously.

Yeah, I still haven't re-watched it. That is a good suggestion; I should do that soon. I have a feeling I'll still like it actually.

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[–] Marlonius 12 years ago

I'll chime in here too. I watched this movie this week for the first time in about 5 years. I'm 40 now, and first saw and loved it when I was about 14. I've seen it 3-4 times over the years since then.

I wouldn't say I liked it less this time, but I responded to it very differently than I ever did in the past. I used to admire Luke and enjoy his shenanigans, but this time around, I had more contempt and pity for him than admiration.

Obviously the movie is the same as it ever was, so teh difference must be me.

I saw a lot of Luke's actions as futile and therefore foolish. It was much harder for me to connect to him as a character. The boxing with Dragline scene, the egg scene, and the road tarring scene remained compelling.

However his repeated escape attempts and eventual suicide by cop left me baffled by his foolishness. For such a rascal as he to throw his life away like he did at the end made no sense to me and I couldn't connect with it at all.

I suppose that the movie had to end, and the drama needed Luke to die, but he dared them to do it, and the sadness of losing him was this time overwhelmed by anger at him having essentially done it to himself.

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[–] fentress 12 years ago

I think those are some excellent thoughts on the movie's strengths and flaws.

I'm the OP author, and I finally watched CHL again. (It's been 5 years since I made the original post!) I enjoyed it very much, but with some caveats. It's great entertainment. I understand what many of the fans say about Luke representing independence of spirit. One could even see him as a Christ symbol perhaps. I do find it rousing.

At the same time, I can understand some unfavorable points of view. Luke did in fact commit a crime, so he should have to pay a price for that, though I would be the first to agree that his punishment far exceeds his crime. I could see where someone might argue that what this movie really does is romanticize a person who clearly isn't interested in being a contributing member of civil society. There is a part of me that would agree. Sure he couldn’t help it that he had a rough upbringing. I had great sympathy for him during that scene with his mother. But like all adults, he’s responsible for his present actions.

But despite that, at the end of the day, I have to say for me personally CHL clearly still belongs in the "movies I like" list. From my experience of 5 years ago, I wasn’t sure I would be saying that now. I anticipate wanting to watch it again in the future, probably every few years or so.

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[–] justwrite3 12 years ago

by fentress -- Luke did in fact commit a crime, so he should have to pay a price for that, though I would be the first to agree that his punishment far exceeds his crime. I could see where someone might argue that what this movie really does is romanticize a person who clearly isn't interested in being a contributing member of civil society. There is a part of me that would agree. Sure he couldn’t help it that he had a rough upbringing. I had great sympathy for him during that scene with his mother. But like all adults, he’s responsible for his present actions.

As I said in my other post, I'm glad it's back on your "like" list.

One point -- I disagree with the part about Luke being "a person who clearly isn't interested in being a contributing member of civil society." He comes across to me as a person interested in being a contributing member of society, but he reflexively refuses to submit to society's desire to change his nature and become a faceless cog in the machinery.

He clearly has talent and is capable. While in the Army, he earned the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and a Purple Heart and was promoted to Sergeant. During the film, he repeatedly shows creativity and inspirational leadership, which are particularly rare and valuable attributes. Given the right circumstances, he could be a stellar contributor.

But the flip side of the personality facets that bring creativity and inspiration is that Luke grates at conformity. That's likely why he was busted back to private by the time he left the Army, likely why he's an aimless soul cutting off parking meters at the beginning of the film, and it's definitely why the Captain and bosses at the prison camp feel threatened by him.

The key scene illustrating this is at the end when Luke is in the church and has a talk with God. He specifically asks God how he's supposed to fit in when God made him the way he is. It's not that he doesn't want to fit in; it's that conforming goes against his very essence.

The problem isn't Luke; God made him the way he is. The problem is that society needs to find a productive place for someone with Luke's talents and not just try to crush him into conformity and punish him when he doesn't. That's a central motivation behind the societal upheaval in the 1960s, but it's also a universal theme that elevates the film from being just a commentary on the '60s.

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[–] fentress 12 years ago

Those are excellent comments, Justwrite, and expressed very well. I concur. Yes, maybe I was a bit too strong in saying Luke had "no interest" in being a contributing member of civil society. What I meant was that it could be argued that CHL romanticizes behaviors that aren't to be modeled. I certainly wouldn't recommend anyone adopt a lifestyle of drifting around aimlessly and destroying parking meters. I feel there's a machismo that runs thoughout the movie, a bit of glamorizing the bad boy. That would be the one concession I would make to someone who had an unfavorable view of the film.

But then again, the movie isn't asking us to approve of everything Luke does. And there's nothing in the movie to indicate that Luke had any wish to hurt anyone. He's just someone who couldn't quite find his niche in the world. Good movie; I like it.

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[–] fentress 12 years ago

Justwrite3: Your suggestion was just the push I needed to finally watch Cool Hand Luke again. Thank you. See my post to Marionius for my reaction.

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[–] justwrite3 12 years ago

fentress, I'm glad you took the time to watch it again, and if I helped spur that along, all the better. Welcome back.

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[–] Nobody-27 12 years ago

"So, has anyone else had a similar experience with this movie? If so, what did you ultimately decide? "

I had a different experience: I disliked it from the first time I saw it. What an awful story, awful character, depressing thing all together. Couldn't believe that anyone liked it. I can bet any money that most of those who liked American Beauty liked this garbage too. They are both equally pointless, shallow, pretentious. Those who see value in such trash probably never read Dostoyevsky or saw One Flew Over The Cockoo's Nest...

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[–] justwrite3 12 years ago

by Nobody-27 -- I had a different experience: I disliked it from the first time I saw it. What an awful story, awful character, depressing thing all together. Couldn't believe that anyone liked it. I can bet any money that most of those who liked American Beauty liked this garbage too. They are both equally pointless, shallow, pretentious. Those who see value in such trash probably never read Dostoyevsky or saw One Flew Over The Cockoo's Nest...

Sorry you didn't like it. I'm not sure why it struck such a negative chord with you, but so be it.

However, you run into dangerous territory when you make blanket statements about those who have a different opinion from you. I happen to like both Cool Hand Luke and American Beauty, yet I've also read Dostoyevsky and very much like One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. I don't have a comprehensive background in Russian literature, but I've read enough to know I prefer Chekhov and Dostoyevsky over Tolstoy and that The Brothers Karamazov is my particular favorite. So I guess I don't fit into your little boxes for consumers of film and literature. Perhaps the problem isn't me, but instead the boxes you've rigidly constructed to label people.

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[–] Nobody-27 12 years ago

You may read Dostoyevsky, but that does not mean that you understand it or comprehend the importance of his work.

Stories and creations such as American Beauty or Cool Hand Luke (and I did not predict that those who love the latter must also enjoy the former just by accident) are outright dangerous: they promote deviant, utterly alienated behavior and present it as "cool" and more than just acceptable: it is desirable!

This would be like promoting junk food as tasty and healthy. Oh, but wait, we already have that! And what is the result? Either people see through such garbage, or they don't and pay the price.

Human values are universal, they are not arbitrary "little boxes" as you call them. Your opinion and mine are not equally valuable. You may think or wish that, but that is not true simply because human or universal values are invariable; personal opinions can be closer or further from that. You may think that 2+2=8 and I may think that 2+2=4. In that case, my opinion is better.

Only those works of art which bring us closer to those universal values and help us see them are worth enjoying - everything else is "junk food for the soul" and as such can be dangerous, especially for those who are not aware of the dangers.

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[–] justwrite3 12 years ago

No, films like Cool Hand Luke or American Beauty are not dangerous. What's truly dangerous are people like you who are so arrogant that they think their opinions are superior to others, judge others based on absolute ideological litmus tests, and are intolerant of those with differing beliefs.

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[–] Nobody-27 12 years ago

No, I am not intolerant to your "beliefs", you are showing more intolerance.
When you get to a higher level of understanding of human nature and universal values you will know that whoever is closer to those values is naturally - more in the right.
Today it may be me, tomorrow it may be you.

E.g. Some may say that racism is OK, you may say it is not. If you were to raise an issue with their claim, should they say that you are intolerant?
Similarly I have an issue with alienation being portrayed as something desirable.

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[–] gressos 12 years ago

It may be a fact that I was too young to grasp it in its whole significance when I was little,but I loved it just as much as soon as I was provided with sufficient knowledge.Now I may have seen it enough times to be surprised anymore,but I'll always shiver while watching scenes like the church talk,the rainy ending and Dragline's storming and the list would include more of the half of the film,it is so magically interpreted,written and directed.I am proud to mark Stuart Rosenberg as a landmark teacher of cinema to me while trying to make films myself.I wish films such daring as this one were made today.

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