Full Movie Reviews
Rating of
2.5/4
"Hud" by Yojimbo
Yojimbo - wrote on 09/12/2017
An elderly cattle man and his hard-drinking womaniser of a son find themselves at odds when their ranch is threatened by an outbreak of foot and mouth disease. Hud was a contemporary western that concerned itself with the passing of the role of the traditional cowboy in American society. The direction is understated and artful with some beautifully composed snap shots of Americana which is complimented by the attractive black and white cinematography and the dialogue is snappy and well observed. But it is Paul Newman's performance that is the showstealer and he brings a lot of charisma to what is essentially a very unsympathetic character. A little too soapy and melodramatic for my taste, it's one of those films I found myself appreciating more than enjoying. Good, but not one of the …
Rating of
3.5/4
"Nobody gets out of life alive."
Arbogast1960 - wrote on 04/20/2008
Hud is a fantastic work, less strictly a Western than a character study about the transition from old West to new. Paul Newman is solid, if a bit overwrought, as the title character, a soulless rancher in rural Texas who spends most of his time sleeping with other men's wives and fruitlessly pursuing his housekeeper. Brandon de Wilde is also quite good as his young nephew, a fundamentally good kid who looks up to his uncle and longs for his approval. Melvyn Douglas is superb as Hud's father, stolid and self-righteous, clinging to the old ways and loathing his cad of a son. Best of all is Patricia Neal as the housekeeper--she effortlessly evokes a strong, self-reliant woman, earthy but also tender and vulnerable. The impact of her work may be seen by its receipt of the Best Actress …
