Under the Volcano (1984)
Against a background of war breaking out in Europe and the Mexican fiesta Day of Death, we are taken through one day in the life of Geoffrey Firmin, a British consul living in alcoholic disrepair and obscurity in a small southern Mexican town in 1939... (imdb)
Cast and Information
Directed By: John Huston
Written By: Guy Gallo, Malcolm Lowry
Starring: Jacqueline Bisset, Albert Finney, Katy Jurado, Anthony Andrews, James Villiers, Ignacio López Tarso
Genre: Drama
Where to Stream
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Under the Volcano belongs to 19 collections
1. Criterion Collection (public: moderated by caffe - 163 stars)
2. Academy Award - Oscar - ALL Best Picture, Directing, Acting & Screenplay Nominees (public - 22 stars)
3. Based on a Book (public: moderated by iconogassed - 18 stars)
4. Based On Novel (public: moderated by tathiel - 7 stars)
5. List: Taschen (public: moderated by KasperL - 6 stars)
6. 1930s period film (public: moderated by djross - 5 stars)
7. All TIME 100 Novels - The film adaptations (public: moderated by CCLZA - 2 stars)
8. DtC Doubling the Canon 2022 Nominees (public: moderated by lineuphere - 2 stars)
9. Alcoholism (public: moderated by iceblox - 1 star)
10. Cannes 1984 Official Selection (public - 1 star)
11. Alex North (composer) (public: moderated by djross)
12. John Beal (composer) (public: moderated by Ag0stoMesmer)
13. Best by different standards (private: sesito71 - 5 stars)
14. Coheed's Films I Need To See Or Try To Track Down (private: Coheed - 3 stars)
15. Cinetheque (private: allegreller - 1 star)
16. 1984: Year in Review (private: polanski28)
17. My Criterions (private: Matthew Parkinson)
18. Availability: Filmstriben (private: KasperL)
19. New Beverly Cinema (private: drivemycar)
Browse the full list of collections
| Date | User | Rating | |
| Jan 11, 2019 |  |
Yiannos | 60 47% |
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Although it's based on a novel, one can't help but think that Huston identified strongly with the drunken machismo of Firmin, played quite convincingly by Finney. The narrative meanders, which is rather fitting for a portrait of a drunk, and the derelict Mexican locations effectively mirror the character's emotional disintegration, but repetition sets in prematurely and Huston is unable to furnish his downward spiral with the subtlety or force necessary to make it truly impactful.
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| Mar 31, 2018 |  |
Gnalkhere | 70 46% |
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I mean Albert Finney is a powerhouse in this film but what a dingy way to end a film. Had the death been at one's own hand (like Lowry's himself) i would've liked it much more.
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| Sep 18, 2015 | caffe | 69 64% |
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Gripping and hypnotic tale of self-destruction that remains compelling until the very last minute when it makes a highly questionable choice that loses it some points. Tremendous acting throughout, with Finney powerhousing and Bisset being as luminous as ever.
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| Oct 25, 2014 |  |
M_A | 68 52% |
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A solid attempt, but, seriously, just read the novel.
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| Nov 02, 2013 |  |
glumpy_99 | 69 32% |
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Intermittently interesting but too often tedious; in Finney's self aggrandizing drunkard, one feels that director Huston may be working through demons of his own, which gives the film a dreary, self-indulgent flavour, which becomes deadly when mixed with a virtual absence of plot. Finney's performance is terrific, but the supporting cast is given little to chew on outside of their linkages with the lead character; Bisset and Andrews especially feel as if they're tugging on a leash.
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| Aug 04, 2011 |  |
Freder | 40 29% |
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Like being run over with a steamroller. Very depressing and distressing. You can see the end coming -- why can't he? Also shows you more of Albert Finney than you ever wanted to see.
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| Sep 03, 2010 |  |
AICHE | 85 91% |
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Who doesn't love a happy drunk?
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| Jan 03, 2009 |  |
Luna6ix | 73 44% |
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Anytime the main character isn't drunk or at some carnival/party setting, this can actually impress me. The only problem is the scenes I mentioned take up more than half of this movie, leaving it uninspired and uninteresting.
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| Jul 16, 2008 |  |
MartinTeller | 64 24% |
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Within two minutes, I knew I wasn't going to like this movie, but I stuck with it anyway. Even when drunk acting is done right, and Albert Finney does it pretty well, I just don't care for it. I don't care about alcoholics, and I especially don't care about alcoholics who drop clever little philosophical bon mots in between gulps. Having said that, it's hard to find anything wrong with this movie. A couple of scenes are even lyrical. But this just isn't my bag.
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| Mar 13, 2008 |  |
Stain | 90 86% |
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Heavy stuff, but then I like that kind of thing. Excellent performance from Finney as usual
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| Average Percentile 55.57% from 188 Ratings |  |