6/10
"You may be a one eyed jack around here, but I've seen the other side of your face."
10 May 2017
ONE-EYED JACKS is a western, which is based on a conflict between the brutality of the Wild West and an intense romance.

The three outlaws successfully rob bank in Sonora, Mexico. However, Mexican rurales track them and catch them celebrating in a cantina. The two outlaws manage to escape. One of the outlaws has, during an exciting chase, betrayed his partner and ran away with their gold. The second outlaw is arrested and transported to prison by way of a jacalito where he learns first hand of betrayal from an owner. He spends five hard years in a Sonora prison, before he escapes with his new partner. He decides to find his old friend. However, the betrayer has used their wealth to become the sheriff of Monterey, California. The fugitive plans a revenge, but he falls in love with a lovely sheriff's stepdaughter...

This is an unlikely illusion, which runs between insecurity and greed. Mr. Brando has, despite the fact that the main protagonist is an outlaw (an antagonist), exaggerated with melodramas in this film. This is an important flaw. The conflict between the two antagonists emphasizes anti western style as sub-genre. This is a positive aspect, which causes a cold tension in this story. The duel between the two of them is very realistic. A romance, with a lot of charm, is a quite tasty and unobtrusive. Simply, Mr. Brando was not experienced enough to connect all the positive aspects in a single unit.

The scenery, together with the photography is excellent, although not corresponded to the mood in this film. I can not be sure, maybe it's just a game between different contrast.

Marlon Brando as Rio is a dominant and very interesting character, who has a frequent and somewhat inappropriately explosion of his feelings. He shows the complexity of an outlaw. Karl Malden as Dad Longworth is a villain, who is rotten to the core. Katy Jurado as Maria Longworth is not got enough space. Her character is not fully developed. Pina Pellicer as Louisa is a charming voice of reason, which is very quickly thrown into the fire.

This is a very ambitious experiment by an inexperienced director.
3 out of 5 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

Recently Viewed