Guilty by Suspicion - Movie Review
Director: Irwin Winkler
Cast: Robert De Niro. Annette Bening, Martin Scorsese
Screenplay: Irwin Winkler
Streaming on: Amazon Prime Video
Now this film isn't known to many and I don't expect a lot of reads for this because it's not a big film with big names attached to it. But if you are reading this, I really appreciate it and I'd like to thank you.
Owing to his alleged involvement with communist parties, film director David Merrill is forbidden from working in Hollywood. He decides to fight for his rights and faces numerous challenges.
Now this film stars Robert De Niro and is written and directed by Irwin Winkler who also directed Star Wars Episode 5: The Empire strikes Back.
The story revolves around a filmmaker in the early 90s named David Merrill (De Niro) struggling to get his picture made because of rumours that he might be a communist which the American Government cannot seem to handle at all. He refrains from being a part of the Communists but has a couple of friends who are and one of them is surprisingly played by Martin Scorsese which was a delight to witness. He too was a filmmaker caught among several subpoenas and deciding to run off to a different country.
De Niro is brilliant as always as you believe him as a father desperately trying to work life and family life. You believe and empathise with him among everything he gets into while he's just trying to do what he loves. He gets hired to direct a television western, but gets replaced immediately. He tries to spend more time with his family and be there for his wife and son.
Dorothy, a friend of David, who's a depressed alcoholic, who's husband is abusive and her son is taken away from her really explores her inner sorrow, but not enough. How David attempts to connect with her and help her, is really deep. And when [SPOILER ALERT] Dorothy kills herself by driving her car into a ditch, it was really sad. But her death didn't hit as hard because after a funeral scene, she's never mentioned (other than once) or even referenced. It didn't feel as impactful to me at least.
In the final courtroom scene as David is asked to reveal the identities of his Communist allies since he had attended a couple of their meetings in the past, he doesn't rat on his friends and stands his ground. Unfortunately, he was falsely accused of being a Communist and wasn't allowed to do what he wanted for over 20 years.
But what's inspiring is that despite all the struggle, all the hardships, all the obstacles, he still manages to try. To try and do what gives him purpose. to try and make films. He stands by his beliefs and keeps moving forward.
Now I feel like the characters weren't developed or explored deep enough. De Niro's performance really brings a layer of depth to the character of David Merrill, and the cast was great. But the writing of the characters I wish was more nuanced. Still, for me, I have a personal attachment to this story for I write screenplays myself and I had written a script similar to this one where a young filmmaker struggles to get his picture made. Please watch this movie if possible. It's available on Prime Video.
- 3.5/5
Comments
Post a Comment