I have been a huge fan Clint Eastwood fan ever since I graduated high school. Personally, I believe that his career as a director outshines his career as an actor, which is saying quite a lot. However, there are still many of his earlier films that he directed that I have not seen. After watching Breezy, and rather enjoying it, I can finally cross this movie off of my list.
Breezy is the story of a teen-aged hippy and a middle-aged divorced man who unexpectedly fall in love. Ultimately, this film shows how profoundly one person can affect your life. Frank Harmon (William Holden) has just gone through a bitter divorce, and is living a live of seclusion. He is cranky, old and lonely. However, when Breezy (Kay Lenz) enters his life, there is a youthfulness that springs up inside of him. It is quite beautiful to see how their relationship progresses throughout the film. This film also sends the profound message that it does not matter who you love. Even though there is a vast age difference between Frank and Breezy, you can tell that they are perfect for each other. This is a solid, well put together film about enjoying life and finding love. However, there are some minor plot points I have with the movie. Relatively early in the film, Frank and Breezy find a dog lying helpless on the side of the road. Breezy gets out of the passenger side to help, and Frank....does the same??? Why does he not get out of the drivers' side??? Later in the film there is a scene in a bar, but why is the dog taken inside the bar?? Why is he not tied up outside?? Then, towards the middle of the film, Frank says he is going out. He tells Breezy that he will be home around 10:00 p.m. It turns out that he gets home much later. When he gets home, Breezy is not even mad at him. Instead, there is an impromptu love scene. Why is Breezy so forgiving of this?? Why is she not more worried about him??? Again, these are all EXTREMELY minor flaws in an otherwise good film.
William Holden plays Frank Harmon. I love this character because you can tell that even though he lives a life of seclusion, he actually does want happiness and companionship in his life again. In fact, it seems as if he is unwilling to admit to himself that Breezy is giving him all of this even though deep down he knows it to be true. I love the way Holden plays the character because what could be viewed as grumpiness towards Breezy actually shows that he knows that she is the right woman for him. The banter and chemistry that he has with Kay Lenz is impeccable, and you truly believe that these two are a couple. Franks' character arc is quite well done as well because we see him struggle with this relationship throughout the film, and it is only at the end that he realizes that this is meant to be. This is a remarkable performance by Holden that almost steals the show from the title character/actress.
Clint Eastwood is the director of Breezy. I love the way Eastwood handles this movie. Breezy is such a pivotal character in this film because she has such a strong impact on everyone she encounters and, because of this, Eastwood naturally has her on camera for virtually the entire film. Even when she is not on screen, you can still feel her presence. The relationship that she has with Frank is also such a driving force in the film, and Eastwood lets those two characters chew up every piece of celluloid that they are in together. The scene where Frank takes Breezy to the beach is so emotional to watch because it marks a turning point in their relationship, and Eastwood handles it in such a way that just makes you smile. While I would not rank this as one of Eastwoods' best films by any means, he does show that he can make a film about a romantic relationship without it being overly dramatic. This movie is a solid gem in his directorial filmography.
Breezy is a fine film directed by one of the industrys' greatest legends. It has a beautiful story, great characters, and a powerful message. However, to be perfectly honest, this is probably a "one-and-done" movie to the casual viewer. Unless you are a massive film fan or a Clint Eastwood enthusiast, you can probably skip this movie without any regrets.
No comments:
Post a Comment