Paul Newman oozes cool and contempt for authority as Luke -- an archetype for Hollywood anti-heroes to come. The punishment his character receives for a petty crime doesn't seem appropriate... seems hijacked from an archaic draconian age, really. Do such labor camps still exist? Only in the south, perhaps? Whatever -- watch and enjoy this band of sweaty, southern-accented men develop their schemes and hatch their plots. The soundtrack is outstanding, too. Lalo Schifrin (he's most famous for his "Mission: Impossible" theme, among dozens of other notable credits) enhances the narrative with his propulsive score. Music is at the core of this film, with the prisoners' continually singing work songs. Newman himself picks up a banjo and sings a tune. This is a compelling movie with universal themes and well-drawn characters.
Written 11/29/08
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