Lawrence of Arabia

Lawrence of Arabia was an epic movie. No CGI or digital additions, just the real thing on a truly grand scale. I really don't want to get into how historically accurate it was-because it wasn't very historically accurate-but I'd like to quote a friend of mine who said "Lean, like most artists, tells a truth that has little to do with historical reality." Not because it's not accurate doesn't mean it's not a great movie, although I did think the line about Lawrence being one of the greatest self-promoters of all time was actually pretty true. O'Toole's performance was amazing he did brought you along on the journey and got you to make that jump into the reality of the movie-and that isn't an easy thing to accomplish. Alec Guinness plays his part so quietly and yet, I couldn't take my eyes off of him-I think he stole every scene he was in. As for Omar Sharif-he played his part well and was nominated for the Academy Award, but I wonder why Guinness wasn't even nominated-I would have picked him over Omar Sharif any day. I also wondered why O'Toole didn't win the Academy Award that year-and looking at who DID win told me all I needed to know. The winner was Gregory Peck for To Kill a Mockingbird but also nominated were Burt Lancaster for Birdman of Alcatraz (one of my favorites), Jack Lemmon for Days of Wine and Roses (a great but depressing movie), and Marcello Mastroianni for Divorce, Italian Style (sorry, haven't seen it). The competition was pretty tough that year and it's hard for me to make a judgment call-to me, O'Toole, Lancaster and Peck...it could have gone to any of them and each would have deserved it. O'Toole went on to seven more nominations without a win, a feat duplicated only by Richard Burton. And it's too bad-have you seen Becket? Or The Stuntman? The Lion in Winter? Those are wonderful movies and he could have won for any of them...

For those of you interested in interviews, this is a great interview with Steven Soderbergh. His line about feeling sad for people who are enjoying something that is not as good as it could be really struck home.

http://www.believermag.com/issues/200608/?read=interview_soderbergh