Alan J. Pakula’s cinema, in virtually all cases, it always moves with elegance and wisdom, tension and intrigue, delicacy and classicism, beauty and tension. His tapes, I insist, almost every one of them, convey that aroma of cinema in its purest form, absolute talent when it comes to storytelling, masterful handling when it comes to controlling the multiple factors that participate in this miracle . called movie. In short: a genius.
The best films of Alan J. Pakula
1 “All the President’s Men”
Alan J. Pakula’s masterpiece. The film in which all the main virtues that stand out in the director’s career are most successfully and firmly summed up. Starring the mighty Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford, accompanied by a collection of memorable supporting characters, ‘All the President’s Men’ is a fascinating intrigue which, moreover, is the most complete and essential film on journalism ever made. A cinematic marvel with no expiration date.
All the President’s Men at eCartelera
Two ‘cliuto’
Although its debut already contained a good number of reasons to celebrate the arrival of Alan J. Pakula in Hollywood, ‘Klute’, his second feature film, was a truly dazzling qualitative leap. Full of brilliant ideas in terms of directingstarting with a prologue that captivated you from close up, this thriller has several scenes worthy of a standing ovation and, above all, an interpretation of Jane Fonda, Oscar Award for this work, which remains in memory. Remarkable movie.
Klute on eCartelera
3 ‘The Last Witness’
The first masterpiece of Alan J. Pakula’s career was titled ‘The Last Witness’ and was released in 1974, when the critics decided to receive it, surprisingly, rather coldly. And it’s that, From its masterful opening lines, the film exudes a constant sense of intrigue and tension., offering a real roller coaster of twists, surprises and great scenes that exude the aroma of the best cinema. A fabulous film that also has one of the most unforgettable endings ever signed by Pakula.
The last witness in eCartelera
4 “The Pelican Report”
Ok, maybe the epilogue is too long and brings more fatigue than anything to the viewer afterwards more than 120 minutes of intrigue in a permanent state of boiling, but it’s still a small mistake in a great film. Starring a wonderful Julia Roberts and the always great Denzel Washington, ‘The Pelican Brief’ is one of the best seen big screen adaptations of a novel by the essential John Grisham and the truly outstanding last film by Alan J. Pakula. Aone of those adult, compact, intelligent proposals full of classicism and experience that are so lacking in the cinematic present.
5 ‘presumed innocent’
‘Presumed innocent’ is one of the great judicial-themed dramatic thrillers released in the 90s, a decade particularly rich in this type of proposals. The reasons? The former, of course. the wise and expert management of an Alan J. Pakula capable of extracting cinematic gold from any type of scene, from those closer to the house’s signature intrigue to those focused on smaller, more intimate moments. It also accompanies one of the great performances of Harrison Ford’s career, an actor who ends up concluding with his outstanding work one of the most accessible and entertaining films of the legendary director’s career.
6 “Sophie’s Choice”
“Sophie’s decision” helped Meryl Streep take home her second Oscar and sign what is, without a doubt, one of the most remembered and celebrated performances of her career. And also to recover the best possible version of Alan J. Pakula after a more than disappointing ‘A business woman’. And it is that, for almost three hours, the director offers a permanent demonstration of talent for handling an extraordinary story which, in other hands, would very likely have fallen into underlining and excess. However, here we have a sublime film that offers a moving humanity, transparency and fragility. Unforgettable.
Sophie’s decision on eCartelera
7 “Here Comes a Wild and Free Knight”
If Alan J. Pakula’s career lacked anything to complete it by consolidating him as an indispensable filmmaker, even if by the end of the 1970s, the date in which we are now, it was already more than clear that he would achieve this enviable status, it was a Western . No sooner said than done. Led by an immeasurable cast, that of Jane Fonda, James Caan and Jason Robards is a delight, but it is an unforgettable Richard Farnsworth who ends up taking our hearts, “There Comes a Wild and Free Knight” is the great masterpiece hidden in Pakula’s trajectory. A memorable western that conveys an abiding love for the genre. Essential.
8 ‘The Barren Cuckoo’
‘The Barren Cuckoo’, first feature film by Alan J. Pakula, it is a strange and fascinating film at the same time and with the same force. Capable of making you smile conspiratorially and freeze your heart from one scene to the next, this little love story is steeped in a nostalgia, tenderness, charm and autumn that runs completely across the screen. And its final, unforgettable stretch does nothing but crown a dream debut.
9 “The Devil’s Shadow”
Regardless of the judgments that can be made on the treatment of a sensitive story such as the one surrounding the Northern Irish conflict, “The Devil’s Shadow” works more than extraordinary as a thriller with constant intrigue. Starring Brad Pitt and Harrison Ford, Alan J. Pakula’s latest film is enjoyed from start to finish thanks to a pace that doesn’t need acceleration to keep you attentive to what’s happening on the screen, increasing in intensity and drama until reaching a brilliant finish. A splendid farewell for the director.
The shadow of the devil at eCartelera
10 ‘Restart’
After that magical trident formed by ‘The Last Witness’, ‘All the President’s Men’ and ‘A Wild and Free Rider Arrives’, Alan J. Pakula relaxed a bit and directed a small comedy-drama (and vice versa) entitled ‘Begin Again’. Based on a magnificent screenplay signed by James L. Brooks, who was adapting a novel by Dan Wakefield, composed the director a film that has triumphed for its simplicity, its flashes of emotion and, above all, its actresses: Jill Clayburgh and Candice Bergen. Only for them, much more inspired than Burt Reynolds, this ‘Start Over’ is already worth recovering.
A specialist of that thriller model that unreservedly grabs you from the first scene and doesn’t let you go until its conclusion, Pakula has also tried his luck in other film genres without failing in any of them. We’re talking about a director with his own personality and a special ability to capture the audience’s interest with the minimum of elements. In a Pakula film, for example, you can end up biting your nails over a badly hung phone, a car that won’t start, or a document that’s been lost.
In short, we are talking about an essential director in the history of the seventh art to whom we pay a passionate tribute with this special. Ten classics that also serve as the best gateway to a creative universe that guarantees hours and hours of entertainment.. Eternal Alan J. Pakula.
Source: E Cartelera
Bernice Bonaparte is an author and entertainment journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a passion for pop culture and a talent for staying up-to-date on the latest entertainment news, Bernice has become a trusted source for information on the entertainment industry.
