Under the Volcano

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Audience Member I try to catch every movie that Huston did. I couldn't get past the 15 minute mark on this one, and that time span includes the opening credits. Finney may or may not be doing a great job of portraying a total lush, and maybe Mr. Huston is directing him perfectly, but I just can't watch this train wreck. Rated 1/5 Stars •  Rated 1 out of 5 stars 09/29/24 Full Review Alec B Somewhat undercooked but Finney gives one of the all time great drunk performances. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/21/24 Full Review Ken R Under The Volcano – A Dramatic Excursion What might we have experienced if the demon drink hadn't taken hold of brilliant English wordsmith Malcolm Lowry? What might his planned epic: ‘The Voyage That Never Ends' have yielded to modern literature, had he lived beyond his short 47yrs? Veteran director John Huston's 1984 treatment gives us a chance to examine some of the literary genius (via a good adaption) that the world's been sadly left wanting for more. Under the Volcano is not exactly an easily accessed work in either availability or ease of entering its character's sometimes debauched world - after all, the story follows the final days in the life of an alcoholic. Lowry's writing style could be described as reminiscent of Eugene O'Neil, with touches of Shakespeare, and performances here do it full justice. Set and produced on location in Mexico around their celebration of the Day of the Dead this tends to set us up for the interesting, but tawdry journey in our central character's last few days. The year is 1938, and members of the Synarchrist Union (NRS) are murdering and robbing locals - within the approaching tide of Nazism. This sets off a series of dramatic events leading to conflict involving our protagonist and his wife. This would be Huston's third last film. Photographed by highly respected cinematographer Gabriel Figueroa (Night of the Iguana '64) with a music score by Alex North (Spartacus'60) There's a creatively designed main title sequence (By Huston's son Danny) that introduces us to the eerie setting - leading the viewer into a challenging watch that might well please serious lovers of art-house cinema. A nicely transferred DVD is available. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/05/23 Full Review TheFilmReviewer 1 Albert Finney is brilliant in John Huston's return to Southern America (after The Treasure of the Sierra Madre). Jacqueline Bisset and Anthony Andrews provide exceptional supporting performances, but the film is nearly controlled by Finney's tour de force. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/02/23 Full Review Audience Member Somewhat undercooked but Finney gives one of the all time great drunk performances. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Isaiah Y Good direction by John Huston, but a great performance by Albert Finney Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/01/21 Full Review Read all reviews

Under the Volcano

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