The Great Santini

The main story feels rivetingly real: a writer remembering his complex relationship w/ an abrasively (& at times abusively) macho father who wasn't always an ahole - just mostly. But the secondary story about the persecuted black man feels less genuine - if only bc it's never clear why Santini's son would become so close w/ the guy. It's still very moving. The sister also has some LOL lines. Unfortunately the relationship resolution comes far too easy & then fate steps in to spare the family.

Robert Duvall and Michael O'Keefe earned their Oscar nominations; Duvall plays Bull Meechum, "The Great Santini", a Marine pilot whose fierce exterior masks insecurity; O'Keefe, his son, clashes with his hardassery. There's some excessive sentimentality involving Toomer (Stan Shaw, still quite good), and it feels rushed at times--planned for TV, it might have been made to fit a time-slot--but the acting is strong all around and the story is engaging. Good music, too. An unjustly forgotten film.

The story centered around Duvall and his family is excellent. It has incredibly well-orchestrated scenes and the family drama unfolds at a good pace (I find dramatic films about families often drag). However, I've never hated a subplot more. Toomer, the African American teen, seems to exist for the sole purpose of convincing the viewer that O'Keefe is a "good" guy. It's a waste of screen time and it weakens the best aspects of the film. Such a shame.

Sure, Duvall is awesome, but his character here was a bit much to sit through for a feature length. I'd like to see a face to face argument between him and R. Lee Ermey's character from "FMJ".

I think the story is great, but it’s just horribly executed. The music overlaying the dramatic moments is almost comedic. I think it could be an an amazing film if someone remade it to today’s standards.

This movie bounced around between so many genres I didn't know what to make of it.

Good drama but great performance by Robert Duvall.

HEY SPORTS FANS

A worthy adaptation of a good book by one of my favorite authors. Duvall is great.