It's Indonesia at the time of the 1965 revolution, and a young, ambitious reporter, played by Mel Gibson, is in Jakata to cover it in "The Year of Living Dangerously," a 1982 film that also stars Sigourney Weaver and Linda Hunt.
Peter Weir does an incredible job at evoking the atmosphere of poverty, homelessness, crowds, oppression, danger, and ugly Americans in this film, and also what it feels like to be a foreigner.
Guy Hamilton, the Australian reporter, is determined that this assignment will pay off for him, and it is his good luck that a tiny photographer, Billy Kwan (Hunt) offers to help him make connections. He likes Guy, he believes that Guy is a good man and will help to get the true story of what is happening in Indonesia out to the rest of the world. What he doesn't count on is Guy's ambition and his journalistic commitment. Neither does the woman he loves, Jill (Weaver), who works for a military attaché. Because of this, she makes a costly mistake.
Sukarno, says Billy, is thought of as a puppetmaster; Billy sees himself as one, but for orchestrating gentler things, like love, helping the poor, and getting out the story of Indonesia's people. In the end, Guy sees himself as a puppetmaster too, with his hands on the story of the year. But as Sukarno becomes a puppet, so does Billy, although willingly, and Guy becomes one himself, not able to do what he originally intended.
Mel Gibson has become such a controversial figure today, with his The Passion of the Christ, his arrest, and his racial remarks. There was a time when he was one of the biggest stars in the world, and it's easy to see why here. Handsome, confident, and passionate, he is an effective Guy. The beautiful Sigourney Weaver, who not long before this movie had voice lessons in New York right after mine, does a wonderful job here. Of course, the role doesn't begin to tap her talent. I remember her in person as very tall, very slender, and very sweet; her beauty and presence radiate from the screen.
The star of the film is in reality Linda Hunt, whose portrayal of Billy Kwan not only won her an Oscar, but gave her a unique place in film history. She totally inhabits Billy. An amazing character, fully fleshed out by her brilliant acting.
The last scenes in this film are sobering and scary, and the audience really feels the sense of urgency and danger.
Fantastic movie. Even if it were horrible, Linda Hunt's performance has to be seen.
Peter Weir does an incredible job at evoking the atmosphere of poverty, homelessness, crowds, oppression, danger, and ugly Americans in this film, and also what it feels like to be a foreigner.
Guy Hamilton, the Australian reporter, is determined that this assignment will pay off for him, and it is his good luck that a tiny photographer, Billy Kwan (Hunt) offers to help him make connections. He likes Guy, he believes that Guy is a good man and will help to get the true story of what is happening in Indonesia out to the rest of the world. What he doesn't count on is Guy's ambition and his journalistic commitment. Neither does the woman he loves, Jill (Weaver), who works for a military attaché. Because of this, she makes a costly mistake.
Sukarno, says Billy, is thought of as a puppetmaster; Billy sees himself as one, but for orchestrating gentler things, like love, helping the poor, and getting out the story of Indonesia's people. In the end, Guy sees himself as a puppetmaster too, with his hands on the story of the year. But as Sukarno becomes a puppet, so does Billy, although willingly, and Guy becomes one himself, not able to do what he originally intended.
Mel Gibson has become such a controversial figure today, with his The Passion of the Christ, his arrest, and his racial remarks. There was a time when he was one of the biggest stars in the world, and it's easy to see why here. Handsome, confident, and passionate, he is an effective Guy. The beautiful Sigourney Weaver, who not long before this movie had voice lessons in New York right after mine, does a wonderful job here. Of course, the role doesn't begin to tap her talent. I remember her in person as very tall, very slender, and very sweet; her beauty and presence radiate from the screen.
The star of the film is in reality Linda Hunt, whose portrayal of Billy Kwan not only won her an Oscar, but gave her a unique place in film history. She totally inhabits Billy. An amazing character, fully fleshed out by her brilliant acting.
The last scenes in this film are sobering and scary, and the audience really feels the sense of urgency and danger.
Fantastic movie. Even if it were horrible, Linda Hunt's performance has to be seen.