Burt Reynolds Epitomizes Charisma
Added 1/9/2009
"The Man Who Loved Women" is part comedic-drama, part psychological study of the male and female pysche and part relationship manual for males lacking confidence. I believe this is one of Burt Reynolds' best movies for the myriad of themes touched on throughout the movie. For one, the image one might have of the real-life Burt Reynolds doesn't seem too far from his role as David Fowler. It has been often stated, maybe unfairly, that Burt Reynolds doesn't act, he "Behaves." In this movie he plays a man so obsessed with women that it literally kills him. While this might be a metaphor for a bigger point, Burt's character resonates with a certain truism about the male psyche. Man's insatiable appetite for sexual conquests and new adventures. Now, of course, this is not politically correct for the staunch conservatives who swear such thinking and behavior are relegated to those uncultivated individuals who feed off depravity and debauchery. But, behind closed doors there is a different story--human nature.
Burt explains his motives in the movie, which pretty much sums up the feelings of many men, which is that for every commitment one makes within a loving relationship, he yearns for the women he hasn't had. The typical "Grass being greener on the other side." Sometimes art does replicate reality. Also, the women who are wooed by David Fowler (Reynolds) are multi-dimensional in scope. They all demonstrate a sense of strength while revealing their vulnerabilities. It's their strength coupled with these vulnerabilities that attract Fowler to them in addition to their physicality.
Can a movie made in the early 1980's still be relevant to the changing gender roles of the 2000's? A lot has changed between men and women within 25 years, but much has remained the same. Through the subtle humor throughout the movie, I challenge viewers to delve into the subliminal messages expressed. It's all there.
Edward Brown
Core Edge Image & Charisma Institute
www.core-edge.com
2 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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Pacing is very important. Also, the actors must say interesting things and keep the thing moving along. Burt and Julie in her office, not saying much, is not good film making. But, the part with the dog stuck to Burt's hand is very funny (although not as good as the sex outfit in NEVER AGAIN). There are far better comedies out there: Jack Lemon's stuff for instance(UNDER THE YUM YUM TREE, GOOD NEIGHBOR SAM, THE OUT OF TOWNERS).
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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A poor copy by any standard.
Added 3/14/2000
In the climatic moment of one of the great film scripts of all time, "The Verdict" by David Mamet, attorney Edward Concannon (James Mason) implores the judge, "We can't be expected to accept a (photo)copy when we have the original." Many consider Truffaut's 1977 "L'homme qui aimait les femmes" a wonderful film. Anyone who has seen this original, need not venture to this 1983 remake, the land of Blake Edwards, his family and his friends.This film likely falls under the category of `the studio still needs another film from me (Edwards) and I have not a single inspired idea'. Don't get me wrong. I'm an avid fan of Edwards, and consider many of his films (notably Days of Wine and Roses, Breakfast at Tiffanys, S.O.B., and Operation Petticoat to ALL be amongst my favorites. Of course the Pink Panther series is a masterpiece in and of itself. But this film is weak, and uninspired, laden with narrative-I've never really figured who came up with the idea of opening a `comedy' with the main character's funeral, and an accompanying heart-wrenching eulogy from one of his lovers. Don't accept a copy when the original is available.
5 out of 8 people found this helpful.
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Mediocre Remake by Blake Edwards... With a Few Surprises
Added 6/17/1999
Blake Edwards's 1983 remake of Francois Truffaut's classic, "The Man Who Loved Women" (1977) has the basic elements of countless adult films: it plays like an extended male/female sexual fantasy. Male viewers may place themselves in the role of David Fowler (Burt Reynolds), the stud who can be loved, adored, and physically satisfied by scores of women at once; female viewers will adore Burt's sensitive, artistic, sexually aggressive male lover. Thus, on a psychological level, Edwards's film is completely unrealistic hogwash; it treats its subject with half-seriousness, half-camp, and becomes extremely dull. Blake Edwards scores in a few areas ignored by Truffaut, however; first, he includes a riotously funny subplot where Fowler travels to Texas and has an affair with an oilman's wife (Kim Basinger) who is turned on by sexual activity in high-risk places. (When Basinger tries to seduce Reynolds in an empty hotel room, he warns her, "Oh, no! I know how you operate. There's some sort of danger here, isn't there? What is there, an Elk's Club meeting here tonight?") Second, Edwards exploits Reynolds's image as the sweet-talking ladykiller to perfection; it becomes extremely satisfying to hear Reynolds wheedle his way into womens' lives with carefully-chosen words and phrases.
1 out of 3 people found this helpful.
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See the French Version
Added 5/2/1999
Too slick, hip and cool for my britches. An Americanization of a European classic that doesn't work. Funny for American audience tastes, but too physical, too materialistic in its approach for my liking.There's a spiritual element to the Truffault version that's missing in the American one with Mr. Reynolds. The French one is more subtle, deeper and sincere.
1 out of 3 people found this helpful.
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Burt Reynolds Epitomizes Charisma
Added 1/9/2009
"The Man Who Loved Women" is part comedic-drama, part psychological study of the male and female pysche and part relationship manual for males lacking confidence. I believe this is one of Burt Reynolds' best movies for the myriad of themes touched on throughout the movie. For one, the image one might have of the real-life Burt Reynolds doesn't seem too far from his role as David Fowler. It has been often stated, maybe unfairly, that Burt Reynolds doesn't act, he "Behaves." In this movie he plays a man so obsessed with women that it literally kills him. While this might be a metaphor for a bigger point, Burt's character resonates with a certain truism about the male psyche. Man's insatiable appetite for sexual conquests and new adventures. Now, of course, this is not politically correct for the staunch conservatives who swear such thinking and behavior are relegated to those uncultivated individuals who feed off depravity and debauchery. But, behind closed doors there is a different story--human nature.
Burt explains his motives in the movie, which pretty much sums up the feelings of many men, which is that for every commitment one makes within a loving relationship, he yearns for the women he hasn't had. The typical "Grass being greener on the other side." Sometimes art does replicate reality. Also, the women who are wooed by David Fowler (Reynolds) are multi-dimensional in scope. They all demonstrate a sense of strength while revealing their vulnerabilities. It's their strength coupled with these vulnerabilities that attract Fowler to them in addition to their physicality.
Can a movie made in the early 1980's still be relevant to the changing gender roles of the 2000's? A lot has changed between men and women within 25 years, but much has remained the same. Through the subtle humor throughout the movie, I challenge viewers to delve into the subliminal messages expressed. It's all there.
Edward Brown
Core Edge Image & Charisma Institute
www.core-edge.com
2 out of 2 people found this helpful.
|
Pacing is very important. Also, the actors must say interesting things and keep the thing moving along. Burt and Julie in her office, not saying much, is not good film making. But, the part with the dog stuck to Burt's hand is very funny (although not as good as the sex outfit in NEVER AGAIN). There are far better comedies out there: Jack Lemon's stuff for instance(UNDER THE YUM YUM TREE, GOOD NEIGHBOR SAM, THE OUT OF TOWNERS).
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
A poor copy by any standard.
Added 3/14/2000
In the climatic moment of one of the great film scripts of all time, "The Verdict" by David Mamet, attorney Edward Concannon (James Mason) implores the judge, "We can't be expected to accept a (photo)copy when we have the original." Many consider Truffaut's 1977 "L'homme qui aimait les femmes" a wonderful film. Anyone who has seen this original, need not venture to this 1983 remake, the land of Blake Edwards, his family and his friends.This film likely falls under the category of `the studio still needs another film from me (Edwards) and I have not a single inspired idea'. Don't get me wrong. I'm an avid fan of Edwards, and consider many of his films (notably Days of Wine and Roses, Breakfast at Tiffanys, S.O.B., and Operation Petticoat to ALL be amongst my favorites. Of course the Pink Panther series is a masterpiece in and of itself. But this film is weak, and uninspired, laden with narrative-I've never really figured who came up with the idea of opening a `comedy' with the main character's funeral, and an accompanying heart-wrenching eulogy from one of his lovers. Don't accept a copy when the original is available.
5 out of 8 people found this helpful.
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