R.I.P. Hugh Hudson

[dws1982]

I wish I had known Revolution was on TCM recently; I try to keep track of their listings, but this one must have gone past me. I've always wanted to see it. There was a director's cut of Revolution that was released on BluRay in the UK that got some good notices. It was shorter overall, but I think it did have a few additions. I like Heaven's Gate quite a bit, but sometimes revisionist takes on a film can feel revisionist for its own sake, and this seems like it was doomed from the minute Al Pacino was cast--it's hard to think of anyone who belongs in Revolution-era America less than Pacino.

But I do like Chariots of Fire quite a lot. I'm not sure if it would be my pick of that Best Picture lineup, but it's not at all a bad winner, and is one of the better winners of the 80's in my mind.

[Big Magilla]

He's one of 378 people who have been nominated for both an Oscar and a Razzie (for Revolution). Surprisingly, his last film, Finding Altamira starring Antonio Banderas and Rupert Everett, was only seven years ago.

[Mister Tee]

TCM ran Revolution a few weeks back; I DVR-d it, but haven't yet got around to watching it. And I watched Empire of Light last night, where Hudson and Chariots of Fire make an appearance. Weird: he was suddenly in my universe, after decades not thinking about him, and now, this.

Essentially he had a three-film career, with roughly the same top of the heap/rock bottom progression that Michael Cimino had. (The midpoint film, Greystoke, had its fans -- and two prime Oscar nominations -- but also enough murmurs of controversy/incompetence to somewhat presage the Revolution debacle.)

I was disappointed Chariots of FIre defeated Reds for best picture back in the day, but I never thought Chariots was anything less than a solid, atmospheric period piece, well-shot and stirring.

[Reza]

I enjoyed his first two films but his career never recovered after Revolution flopped.

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/f ... es-aged-86