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The Year of Living Dangerously Reviews
Good for its era but has not aged so well, particularly technically. The politics are spot on though.
Excellent opportunity to see Mel Gibson and Sigourney Weaver in the beginning of their careers. The movie depicts realistically third world conditions in the early sixties. Western journalists mostly have a good time as the local society is going to hell. The woman who plays Gibson’s male assistant-very convincingly I should say- was awarded an Oscar for supporting acting.
The "journalists witnessing atrocities" genre is often fraught with narrative issues. This movie certainly isn't free of those problems but I like how almost intentionally clueless the western reporters are for most of the movie, caring more about the prestige of the "scoop" rather than the genocide occurring before their very eyes.
As much as I appreciate Linda Hunt as an actress (Silverado was a VHS favorite growing up), it's difficult to see her nuanced performance getting the same recognition these days. An American actress portraying a Chinese-Australian photojournalist in Indonesia just doesn't jive well these days, regardless of how capably it's done. Director Peter Weir has some legitimate masterpieces to his name, but The Year of Living Dangerously isn't one of them. Adapted from a novel of the same name by C. J. Koch, the script covers the instability of Indonesia in 1965 through three people - Mel Gibson's fresh-faced but ambitious Australian journalist Guy, Hunt as altruistic photographer Billy Kwan with local connections, and Sigourney Weaver as Jill, a British diplomatic representative. The narrative aims to present both a romantic melodrama between Guy and Jill where the unpredictable atmosphere makes things hot and heavy, while criticizing the exploitative attitude of Westerners that see the unrest and suffering only as a means of personal gain. It's ambitious, but it probably worked better off as a novel; there's not enough time to explore each of the components in detail, even if the performances are good all around. The romance reinforces the flippant nature of the outsiders, but it's more of a brief footnote to a main political plot that feels pretty blunt and relies on Guy being doggedly self-serving, which really takes away from the audience supporting him getting with Jill or fleeing the country. Well-executed practically, especially when it comes to the frantic depiction of revolutionary Indonesia, but messy in structure. (2.5/5)
Linda Hunt was pretty amazing. Rest of the film is ok, some characters seemed unconvincing, a bit over the top. The story gets lost somewhere amongst a weak tale of romance and a disparate attempt at political analysis. There's enough here to make it worth a watch just for the way it portrays Indonesia during the coup but could have been a lot better.
The "journalists witnessing atrocities" genre is often fraught with narrative issues. This movie certainly isn't free of those problems but I like how almost intentionally clueless the western reporters are for most of the movie, caring more about the prestige of the "scoop" rather than the genocide occurring before their very eyes.
One of my favorite movies. Surprised at the reviews, because it was very well-received when it came out. I rewatched it recently and found it has withstood the test of time. At a time when a country's collapse into authoritarianism seems alarmingly relevant, it's worth watching "The Year of Living Dangerously" to see how easily a charismatic leader can dupe his people. Guy Hamilton (Mel Gibson, in a very early role that showcased his electric screen presence) is an ambitious Australian journalist sent to cover the unrest in smoldering Jakarta. He is sent without contacts and would be sent home if not for the unexpected friendship of photojournalist Billy Kwan (Linda Hunt in her gender-bending Oscar-winning role). Billy shows him the side of Asia that has pierced his soul and captured his heart -- the heart-rending poverty, and the strange beauty of the ancient soul of Asia. He also introduces Guy to his friend Jilly Bryant (Sigourney Weaver), who is assistant to the British attache. Sparks strike between these two, and their romance is heightened among the heightened tensions in Jakarta. Things come to a head when the country is tipping toward civil war. The soundtrack by Vangelis is haunting and fits perfectly as a background to this absorbing, artistic film. Highly recommend.
Passable story but I didn't find the performances convincing.
As important and interesting as the story of troubled Indonesia is, the characters' story in the forefront never really gets off the ground. Linda Hunt gives a captivating performance, though.
This film is definitely in my top 10 of all time. The direction, performances, being immersed in the setting. I've probably seen it more than a dozen times, and the intensity and romance never fail to stir my heart. And the amazing Linda Hunt- there aren't enough words for the transcendence of her performance. She well deserved the Oscar.
The year of living dangerously was very good when I have seen it for the first time. Mel Gibson does a terrific performance in the movie. I got it for Christmas.
Gorgeously filmed and aided by some excellent performances Peter Weir has made a great film in The Year of Living Dangerously. Mel Gibson plays a young Australian reporter stationed in Jakarta, Indonesia under the Sukarno regime. He befriends a dwarf Chinese- Australian named Billy Kwan and romances a Brit journalist Jill Bryant. The look of the film is good- It makes it seem almost akin to a documentary and there is a beautiful glow to each scene. All the actors are in top form- Gibson, Sigourney Weaver and especially Linda Hunt who plays the dwarf. This is a sweeping tale of morality, romance and political unrest. Another highlight is the score by the ever-reliable Vangelis. (A must watch political drama from Australia).
Gorgeously filmed and aided by some excellent performances Peter Weir has made a great film in The Year of Living Dangerously. Mel Gibson plays a young Australian reporter stationed in Jakarta, Indonesia under the Sukarno regime. He befriends a dwarf Chinese- Australian named Billy Kwan and romances a Brit journalist Jill Bryant. The look of the film is good- It makes it seem almost akin to a documentary and there is a beautiful glow to each scene. All the actors are in top form- Gibson, Sigourney Weaver and especially Linda Hunt who plays the dwarf. This is a sweeping tale of morality, romance and political unrest. Another highlight is the score by the ever-reliable Vangelis. (A must watch political drama from Australia).
Peter Weir's The year of living dangerously is a fantastic film. A fictionalized story based on real world happenings it is drama and romance interwoven against a political backdrop. Both the leads Mel Gibson and Sigourney Weaver are stunning (in my opinion one of the best movie couples ever committed on film) and Linda Hunt is amazing as the male dwarf (she won an Oscar for her work here). Vangelis has provided a sublime soundtrack, and even by his lofty standards I hold it on a higher level than his other work. Of course the architect of the entire project- The director Peter Weir skillfully directs his actors in various locations around the Indonesian islands and this is a testimony of how underrated the man is(seriously where is his lifetime achievement?) . He has made poetry in motion here.
One of my absolute favorite films of all time.
Gorgeously filmed and aided by some excellent performances Peter Weir has made a great film in The Year of Living Dangerously. Mel Gibson plays a young Australian reporter stationed in Jakarta, Indonesia under the Sukarno regime. He befriends a dwarf Chinese- Australian named Billy Kwan and romances a Brit journalist Jill Bryant. The look of the film is good- It makes it seem almost akin to a documentary and there is a beautiful glow to each scene. All the actors are in top form- Gibson, Sigourney Weaver and especially Linda Hunt who plays the dwarf. This is a sweeping tale of morality, romance and political unrest. Another highlight is the score by the ever-reliable Vangelis.