Discuss Nostromo

I agree with Laura M. �id not care for Nostromo. �id tape all of it - but don't know why now. �irth cannot come close to his portrayal of Darcy.

I will sum up my comment with a : why on earth use 3-2hour tape when I could have used 1-6hour one instead. Cause it won't rerun that often except for some passages. I too found the love scene kind of mild and rushed, brusque should I say? Well if the character is more aroused by silver than his wife...

Know the old adage about a camel being a horse designed by a committee? Well, i feel that they boiled up the camel, in plain English style, added a little Italian Stuffing, and some Spanish sauce, and served it up all on one plate!It is too much to swallow in one go,and I have indigestion! I don't know yet wheter it if it is a dish fit for this picky princess, or just plain old Turkey Hash. There were so many characters, that none but nostromo was drawn in anything more than a pencil-sketch, and therefore hard to credit. Just two clear points-1) the Italians were wonderful , 2)Colin Firth either is a crappy kisser, or her didn't much like Serena!

Caroline, Pemberley?

To add to above remarks I would like to say that I do not wish to go against the mores of the group and I do realize that Firth is too talented to be stereotyped as a 19th century country gentleman. I feel that it took every line and every character to make P&P2 what we all love and I cannot expect that in every role plays.

Between his mustache and hers, that's probably why they looked like it hurt to kiss. But Firth did look awesome, but everytime he "Nostromo, I need your help..." I cringed. It was like asking a little boy for his lollipop. And the horses, so small. But the one who played Antonia, where did they find her. She SUCKED!!! Albert Finney as usual was good. Even though I only saw well one and one half episodes. Actually seeing CF sweat was a definite turn on. Me in my nightie, with glass of wine in hand dying for the first night to end so I could get back to my book Circle of Friends, which bTW is AWESOME!!! Wasn't crazy about the movie. I wouldn't kick Chris O'Donnell out of bed I can tell you yessiree. Well back to Nostromo oh no!!

I think one problem we might have with Nostromo is the fact that in the book Gould is not a major character, he's just the character the other's lives revolve around--so there wasn't enough Firth. I liked Nostromo a lot, but then I have read the book, which fills in what the movie didn't show, and I'm a Conrad fan. Am I the only one who liked it?

I liked it too Ann. I thought it was photographed beautifully and that Albert Finney gave an award-winning performance. The actor playing Nostromo is definitely worth drooling over! Firth was not as compelling in this role as he was playing Darcy, but I thought he made the most of what they wrote for him and I really disliked his character at the end because he chose the silver over his wonderful wife. And I found Nostromo's dilemma and tortured decision to 'get rich very slowly' will conveyed. I thoug t Claudia Cardinale was overly made-up for her role; found that distracting. I have not read this book but may just have to now.

No, you're not, amiga! On the other NOSTROMO thread I just said a bit about Conrad; I won't repeat that here. I find Conrad (and thus films based on his work interesting, thought-provoking, and even finger-pointing at times at some of us in the audience. And in this morally slack age we're buried in now, I find that a positive goad and reminder of things like absolute truths, moral guts, integrity, etc.- things which Conrad hews out of the quarry, so to speak, for everything he ever wrote (rather like homas Hardy novels). CF was not the lead in an elegant British setting with grace and wit at every turn in NOSTROMO, so that could be disappoining to folks who've never read Conrad when they see this or any Conrad film. But is not this precisely what we get ticked off at on this BB? Someone who has never read Austen and yet stoutly declares the plot, characterization, or themes to be something we readers know to be in error? ;-)

No, you're not, amiga! meant "Ann, you're not the only one who liked it."

Am I wrong, or did they take some liberties at the end of the show--particularly with Gould becoming something of a dictator. I thought the objections to the government which began to grow up at the end of the book, was more of an "it's time to get restless" again variety. (I also didn't like the idea that Pedro Montero was in with Nostromo at the end--that was certainly not in the book.) I think they could have done better with the "Material Interests" theme, but I suppose that is a lot harder to convey than character developement.

Well, I didn't hate Nostromo, but then again, I didn't love it! ;-) I had no problem following the story and will admit, Cecily, to never reading the book. But that being said, I found the huge gaps in time to be jarring, which is of course a film making dilemma. I take it that years have past between some scenes, but there was nothing outward to indicate it until it sank in...my that lighthouse went up fast...etc... And speaking from a purely hunk standard...I would say that Ramirez, Nostromo's Indian protoge, far outshone anyone else in the cast! Ooh baby! ;-) And one more note...am I the only one who noticed the pronounced dagginess as Charles was dragged to the executioner's platform...? I didn't think so! ;-)

Since CF referred to the garroting in at least two interviews I read, it obviously made quite an impact on him psychologically (and yes, Cheryl, physically, but then real executions apparently have that too, along with the other more painful symptoms).

I have tried to watch Nostromo a dozen times and keep falling asleep. My children keep asking me what it is I am watching all the time, not quite understanding it is on all the time because I am trying to make myself watch something I have not really enjoyed. Anyway, I continue to answer "Nostromo." They have begun to chant the Los Lobos rap from Short Circuit 2: "Nostromo kick your ___ Nostromo kick your face... Nostromo kick your ___ into outerspace."

I think I like it now. Enough to keep the tapes for a while, anyway.My husband does, so do most of the men I have talked to about it.Perhaps that's the problem, Amy, it was done by men, for men, whereas P&P was done with the female market in mind. Or N was done for the Italian market. Or even too many markets! My main gripe is still that it is too crammed.

I enjoyed it, thought it slow at the beginning, and confusing---I had to keep asking my husband to remind me who the characters were. I have trouble evaluating CF, I'm afraid, due to excessive (?) viewing of P&P. So, I find myuself noticing, "Oh, riding boots again" instead of being drawn into the character, through no fault of CF's acting ability. I am relieved to read above that in the book Nostromo does not end up in cahoots with that nasty brother of the general. That really upset me in the film because I thought Nostromo would never do that. Jane

'Since CF referred to the garroting in at least two interviews I read, it obviously made quite an impact on him psychologically' - France Wow! I have been thinking along the same lines. I know that one interviewer was 'insulted' by CF asking him if he knew what garroting was, but the second interview seems to indicate that a)he had not known that it would take the form that it did (the steel band, etc.). Perhaps he thought of it like I did, as a thin wire (ala the Cosa Nostra execution). And b) the horror of that way of being killed really got to him personally (possibly because they accidentaly came too close to the real thing!))

Ann, you're right. I've just finished the book and Pedro Montero just disappears somewhere to the south. It also doesn't say who Nostromo uses to convert the ingots into money, but Pedro would be a very strange choice. Wonder why they did that, except as a shorthand to show that he was still alive while his brother was dead. I've already posted a longer follow up on the other Nostromo topic, so won't repeat it here. Cheryl - I also noticed Charles' dagginess as he was being dragged to his execution!;-) I guess it's a combination of riding breeches (again), leaning back while walking (giving the impression he's being dragged) and our ever-searching eyes!!

Re the garroting scene: Yes, it was a very intense scene, the most intense of the whole film for me (and not just for the daggy aspects!) CF did an amazing job there, but from what I understand, it may not have been all acting...? Was the scene shown the one where he was almost hurt? Jane: I have trouble evaluating CF, I'm afraid, due to excessive (?) viewing of P&P. So, I find myuself noticing, "Oh, riding boots again" instead of being drawn into the character, through no fault of CF's acting ability. I'm so glad you mentioned the riding boots, for I was pleased to see them as well! ;-)

Cheryl, yes, this is where he almost bought the farm; per the interview on the FoF page; "Um, yes. There's a metal collar to strangle me around my neck and someone yelled an instruction which I didn't understand. My hands are tied behind my back and I don't speak Spanish to tell them I'm REALLY being strangled and to stop. And yet we finished on schedule and it looks great. " Unfortunately, no one asked him about the riding boots OR "dagginess" ;-)

Cheryl, yes, this is where he almost bought the farm; per the interview on the FoF page; "Um, yes. There's a metal collar to strangle me around my neck and someone yelled an instruction which I didn't understand. My hands are tied behind my back and I don't speak Spanish to tell them I'm REALLY being strangled and to stop. And yet we finished on schedule and it looks great. " Unfortunately, no one asked him about the riding boots OR "dagginess" ;-)

Mari: Unfortunately, no one asked him about the riding boots OR "dagginess" ;-) A unforgivable oversight, in my opinion! ;-)

Nostromo I did like the movie, it was just that every time I heard the flute music I thought Clint Eastwood would appear on is horse with a cigar and poncho. The Good ,the Bad and The Ugly. Just a little over played at certain times. CF in the garroting scene,that was very difficult to watch. His look is so dreamy in this film with the beard and sweet smiles at his wife. Especially in the first episoide before he became obessed with the silver mine. I did enjoy all the other major actors and found them to be very convincing. Now, I would like to finish the book.