I thought it a great pick as did others, and
for similar reasons. However, the relationship between Dunaway
and Holden simply did not gel for me, and was only bearable to
watch because of the dialogue between them (something I think
someone else mentioned).
Some interactions between them were amazingly
edgy. And the scene where Dunaway spends the time discussing her
new projects right on through to her orgasm was hilarious. I
expect Lumet was saying this was a woman who got off on the
thrill of the *wins* she anticipated. That was her sex. And I've
known people like this, so it connected with me.
Then there was the final dialogue between
Holden and Dunaway. Holden was so brutal in his comments, one
wonders what the hell he found to love in this woman. He kept
repeating that he loved her, but he cuts to the heart of her
character with the precision of a surgeon, and finds no blood, no
pumping heart. So, what was to love? One is left with the
impression that she was simply his middle aged fling. His last
gasp to retain his prime, before settling down to the realities
of being over the hill (in every way).
I also found the Beatty speech a bit over the
top. Now *that* was dated, IMO. Corporations were the *big, bad,
amoral wolves*, killing off what was good and truly American.
This reminds me of the message Altman tried to go for in McCabe
and Mrs.Miller, only I think Lumet does it better.
It also made me wonder if the various Militia
groups use this movie as one of their training films as proof
positive that the enemies are all trying to create *one world
order*.
In addition, the movie precisely captured the
demon that was just emerging in the mid-70's: the dawn of the MBA
age in business and entertainment. Hackett *was* the embodiment
of this whole new beast entering the world of traditional
business; the bottom liner. Most network news fell victim to this
mantra by the early 80's, losing their status as independent
division, and being incorporated into the larger network
organization.
Finally, Beal's character and his eventual *insights*
strongly reminded me of our own Wexxford: that font of obscure
wisdom....
