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Cradle Will Rock

Cradle Will Rock (1999)

December. 10,1999
|
6.8
|
R
| Drama

A true story of politics and art in the 1930s USA, centered around a leftist musical drama and attempts to stop its production.

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Reviews

Ensofter
1999/12/10

Overrated and overhyped

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Executscan
1999/12/11

Expected more

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Curapedi
1999/12/12

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

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Hayden Kane
1999/12/13

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

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jlthornb51
1999/12/14

A fascinating, highly entertaining historical epic that borders on the brilliant. Tim Robbins directs with flair and imagination from an absolutely fantastic script that brings characters that are part of the very fabric of America to life in wonderful ways. The cast is just great but one standout is Emily Watson in the role of a homeless, jobless young woman during the Depression who longs for stardom. It is simply a superb performance and Watson will break your heart while inspiring you at the same time. Her simple beauty and gentle singing voice are perfect for this film and the image of her rising from sleeping behind a theater movie screen will haunt audiences with its power. After watching work her magic in this film, it becomes quite obvious why Emily Watson is considered the greatest actress of our time.

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evanston_dad
1999/12/15

"Cradle Will Rock" got no love at the time of its release. I can only hope people discover it all these years later on home video, because it's a triumphant ode to the power art has to enact change and unite people in a common cause.Set in the world of Depression-era protest theatre, it brings together a collection of narrative threads that explore the collision between art and commerce. The robust cast is full of terrific actors, all doing terrific work, but Cherry Jones and Vanessa Redgrave are standouts.This film has an energy and irresistible narrative drive that get me excited every time I see it.Grade: A+

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a h
1999/12/16

This film reminds you of how class, politics, war and censorship influences culture in a very well made and inspiring way. Orson Welles says that if you leave the theater without passion and the will to fight and challenge society and instead discuss the play's connotations over a cup of coffee theater has failed. Good point! Despite a very famous cast and a fascinating and relevant story it got a very limited release. Perhaps it is symptomatic of the topic of the film, cultural censorship, and the R-rating - please! Jim Murray is great as the miserable and contradictory puppeteer and the debate between Diego Rivera and Nelson Rockefeller over Lenin is not to be missed. As the previous viewer said, stick it out - it is worth it!

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star-lists-1
1999/12/17

This is one of the best films I've ever seen. It has the idealism of Casablanca mixed with a much needed capitalist critique, among many other things.If you're a political activist--or just a citizen who is worried about the direction the world is going in--this movie is a must-see. You may agree or disagree with the political perspective, but you must see it anyway. Try to look upon the characters as allegorical. People who criticize them as 'cardboard figures' are missing the point, I think. Robbins is trying to distill reality into a 2 hour film. In my opinion, it is not far from the truth to say that there is a battle in the world between people who love wealth and power and people who love truth and justice.It's one of the rare cases of a film that is strongly critical of the establishment. Indeed, it surprises me that Tim Robbins is able to get any work at all after doing a film like this. But maybe Hollywood, since it is sort of a bastion of liberalism, is willing to put up with Tim's 'cute politics'.But it's not just a political film, it also has artistic depth and the acting is quite good. You'll laugh. You'll cry. Etc. ;) Suspend your disbelief and your joy will know no bounds...

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