Finally watched Hitchcock's 1940 classic
Foreign Correspondent. What a fantastic film. Not only a timely nod to how problematic journalism can be, especially reporting from overseas. Couple that with some beautiful cinematography and exception set pieces, and you may wonder why this is only the equivalent of a b-side Hitchcock film. But the suspense is there big-time, and of course a very cool take away at the end.
And one other note found on the only special feature of note was the story of character actor
Robert Benchley - who plays the embittered newspaper station chief in London and is priceless. The fact that it was a case of life imitating art as he himself admitted that he was, not quite a writer and not quite an actor. You don't often find that sort of story much anymore. And that is a shame.
I contrast this with Steven Spielberg's remake of
War of the Worlds. Yep, great special effects, great big beautiful set pieces (which are great in this day and age of effects), and a classic story. But what was the point? I've heart Mr. Spielberg say that this is a meditation on fear and what 9/11 has done to us. Well, whatever you think about that,
Cinematical and
Ebert are dead right. This movie isn't big enough. Oh, and watching Tom Cruise act just doesn't hold the charm it may once had when he was less crazy.
And one last point on this. Isn't everyone totally sick and tired of remakes?
Matt Welch
