The Great Santini

Starring:Robert Duvall, Blythe Danner, Michael O'Keefe, Lisa Jane Persky, Julie Anne Haddock, Brian Andrews, Stan Shaw, Theresa Merritt, David Keith, Paul Mantee, Michael Strong, Bennett Liss, Joe Dorsey, David Frankham, Jan Stratton, Paul Gleason, W.K. Stratton, Lew Horn, Michael Rougas, Al Garcia
Director: Lewis John Carlino
Studio: Warner Home Video
Product Type: DVD

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Robert Duvall gives one of his most memorable performances in the title role of this 1979 drama about a hardcore Marine lieutenant named Bull Meechum (Duvall), a fighter ace who calls himself "The Great Santini" and compensates for peacetime inactivity by waging war on his intimidated children. His wife (Blythe Danner) lovingly tolerates his behavior, but his 18-year-old son (Michael O'Keefe) is working up the courage to defy the domineering patriarch, whose need for competition borders on maniacal. When push comes to shove (and shove they certainly do), the son earns his father's begrudging respect, and as it turns out, just in time. Military brats may recognize their own experience in this comedic drama, but anyone can relate to the Meechum family's patriarchal dysfunction. Writer-director Lewis John Carlino (adapting the novel by Pat Conroy) does a fine job of balancing humor with the kind of stressful anxiety that can either strengthen a family or tear it apart. Both Duvall and O'Keefe were deservedly nominated for Academy Awards. --Jeff Shannon

Description

A mighty actor-Robert Duvall-gets a role to match as a "top gun" Marine fighter pilot at odds with his family and peacetime America. Blythe Danner and Michael O'Keefe co-star. Year: 1979 Director: Lewis John Carlino Starring: Robert Duvall, Blythe Danner, Michael O'Keefe

Customer Reviews:

BEWARE! THIS DVD ISN'T WIDESCREEN!.......2007-04-10

Dear Film Company Jackasses,

Surely you know we already hate you for your greed - Why do you add insult to injury by taking fine films like "The Great Santini" and cutting them to Full Screen?

Yet another fine film marred, no doubt, by some big company's desire to cut corners. Burn, Hollywood, burn!

Great Movie!!!.......2006-12-01

I hadnt seen this movie in years but watched it again last night and remembered just what a great movie it is. Its some of Robert Duvalls best work and thats saying a lot as Im a big Duvall fan. Glad to have this movie in my collection! A+++

As Good as an Oscar Nominee Gets.......2006-10-23

All right, this is five stars by the special standards of Hollywood. One could project other expectations. However, I was both shaken and entertained when I saw the film first run, and I remembered it well enough to buy it to show my teenage son a couple decades later. Is that recommendation enough?

Falls short .......2006-08-03

Robert Duvall is great. There is no questioning his supremacy among all actors. One of his greatest roles was that of a looney marine in Apocalypse Now. I don't know if Apocalyse precedes or follows the great Santini. However, if it precedes, then Santini is a poor exploitation of a great character for Duvall.
This movie portrays an extremely demanding and unforgiving father of four kids. It shows Duvall's character's strengths of leadership and drive are his greatest weaknesses when transferred to his private family life.
The movie is very sentimental and has moments of trajedy and requisite humor. However, it fails to really push Duvall's character to the greatness he deserves. In the end, it is just a bland sort of family movie.

Excellent and powerful film.......2006-05-10

This is a powerful film which features Robert Duvall as a classic tough-guy insensitive, non-PC career marine officer and jet-fighter pilot. The plot turns on the relationship between this incredibly gung-ho marine and his family, which has not completely bought in to the protagonist's 100% dedication to his marine identity. His teen-age son, in particular, is not cut from the same cloth as his father, and has no wish to follow in Dad's footsteps. This results in a conflict that this film handles excellently, and this film is a fine character study.

Duvall is simply brilliant, and the rest of the cast turn in fine performances. The viewer learns much about the Old South in this film also, with all its grace, culture, manners, and sadly, its bigotry.

This film manages to both inspire and depress the viewer, but it is a powerful viewing experience that is well worth watching and owning.

Charlie Rose with Robert Duvall (March 11, 1998)

Average customer rating:

A good accompaniment to movie The Apostle (1997)

Charlie Rose with Robert Duvall (March 11, 1998)

Manufacturer: Charlie Rose Inc.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Description

A rebroadcast of a discussion with actor Robert Duvall about his films, "The Apostle" and "The Gingerbread Man" (from January 29, 1998)

Customer Reviews:

A good accompaniment to movie The Apostle (1997).......2007-05-24

For fans of The Apostle (1997) with Robert Duvall, this is a great accompaniment. A thoughtful interview, as always, by Charlie Rose. The Apostle - Collector's Edition

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