A Face in the Crowd

20 years before Network, here's another movie about the corruptive powers of television, and its inappropriate influence in the world of politics. Andy Griffith is quite good in this, to my surprise. A meaningful, thoughtful and worthwhile film.

'All the King's Men' meets 'Network'. Both Neal and Griffith are marvelous. Awesome, dark classic.

At times it's a bit too on-the-nose; however, this occasionally works to spectacular effect (particularly in the denouement and killer ending). That aside, it's a vicious and uncompromising look at the corrupting effects of power, media manipulation, and the shady relationship between publicity, politics and business. Andy Griffith is a surprisingly despicable bastard here, and Patricia Neal and Walter Matthau are in fine form in supporting roles.

A must-see film for our times, it's hard to believe it is 50 years old. Andy Griffith as a charismatic, but ultimately sociopatchic entertainer. From the beginning you know he is using people, but you also watch him be used by more and more people. He becomes corrupted by power and moves further away from the values he original sang about and ends up as a thing he both hates and loves. Andy Griffith proves in this that he is a masterful actor.

Surprisingly dark and cynical. Andy Griffith really makes his character larger than life, and there's some great dialogue to be found.