Fail Safe

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clay w I don't understand the point of this remake. It's a very diluted, condensed, powerpoint version of the brilliant original. It adds exactly nothing to the film version and subtracts vast tracts. It utilizes a collection of very talented actors who somehow seem to be reading lines instead of delivering the visceral, utterly convincing performances provided by those in the original. Honestly, watch the original. It's thought provoking, gut wrenching, horrifying and haunting. This remake is okay, but a pale imitation of its predecessor. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member 3.7 actually interesting Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 05/17/21 Full Review Audience Member Not bad done, but the live emission, instead of making it more real, looks threatrical, and it does not achieve the tension and impact of the original movie. Anyway, I think we all miss Henry Fonda and the way Lumet directed it. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Audience Member I think you have to begin any discussion about the 2000 version of Fail Safe by talking about the fact that it was performed live on TV. It’s amazing how little this feels like a stage production, and comes across as something that was filmed in a more traditional manner. They choreographed a few interesting camera moves, and even included some computer graphics that seem like they might be hard to time right with the dialogue. They did it all in black-and-white, I assume to fit in with the era that it takes place, and I thought that was a good choice. The story is what you would get if you took Dr. Strangelove and removed all the humor. Now I enjoy the humor a lot in Strangelove but I also found the concept fascinating in Fail Safe when it was taken seriously. There was a moment early on in Fail Safe where I thought I knew exactly what was going to happen, they set it up and made me think I was right, and then the movie shocked me and went the opposite way. I love when a movie can subvert my expectations in that way. The story does get pretty dark and depressing at times, which I didn’t love but at least it didn’t pull any punches. I thought the acting was excellent, particularly from all these TV and movie stars who you would assume are used to having the freedom of multiple takes to get it right. They were able to nail all the lines, including some big dramatic speeches that were dripping with emotion. I quite enjoyed the film, and I think it would have been neat to experience the novelty of it firsthand when it aired on TV. However, packaged on DVD without commercial breaks, I must admit that Fail Safe feels like a legitimate film and one that I would have happily gone to the theater to watch. Ranking on my Flickchart Wins against Elmer Gantry Wins against The Lady Vanishes Wins against Hairspray Loses to Ferris Bueller’s Day Off Loses to The Dirty Dozen Loses to There Will Be Blood Loses to Mannequin Loses to Airplane! Loses to Quantum of Solace Loses to The Adventures of Robin Hood Loses to Little Miss Sunshine Fail Safe ranked 193 out of 1554 Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/06/18 Full Review Audience Member Horrifying. Intense. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/18/23 Full Review Audience Member Still the way things stand. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Fail Safe

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