Matrixston Wow! Such a good movie.

Forumrxes Yo, there's no way for me to review this film without saying, take your *insert ethnicity + "ass" here* to see this film,like now. You have to see it in order to know what you're really messing with.

ActuallyGlimmer The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

Calum Hutton It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

Wizard-8 One of the reasons "The Great Santini" is of interest is the fact that a movie like this probably wouldn't get made today, at least by a major Hollywood studio. The movie is in great part a character study of an individual (played by Duvall) who isn't very likable. Though I can picture some viewers being turned off by the film because of this unlikable character, I did find the character interesting to watch. He is so abrasive, even towards his family, that whenever he appeared I kept a close watch on him to see if I could find something to explain why this man was the way he was. I should also mention that Duvall's performance is extremely convincing, Oscar worthy as a matter of fact. In fact, all of the performances in the movie are very good.While the movie's performances and presentation of the title character make this worth a look, I will have to admit that they don't quite mask some significant flaws - mainly with the screenplay. The movie plays out like a series of vignettes instead of one strong plot thread that evolves over time. And quite often what happens in the vignettes could be completely taken out without hurting the rest of the movie at all. (Study how the predictable subplot with the character of Toomer is quickly forgotten once it ends.) Also, the ending is kind of weak, wrapping things up too quickly and not giving a real hint of what's to come of these characters. The movie, despite these flaws, does still have interest, enough that I'm glad I watched it. Though I feel it's definitely not to all tastes. I would recommend you first read up on the movie extensively before deciding whether or not to watch it.

ma-cortes Lt. Col. 'Bull' Meechum (Robert Duvall) is a wildcat Marine Pilot stationed stateside ; at the beginning , he along with his family are living in Spain , then , they return to USA . The family is formed by father , mother (Blythe Danner) and children (Michael O'Keefe as Ben , Lisa Jane Persky as Mary Anne , Julie Anne Haddock as Karen and Brian Andrews as Matthew Meechum) . They are a dysfunctional family , rigidly governed by the father , as he abuses and deals them in military style , because he doesn't allow himself any other way yo show his affection .The motion picture mingles tenderness , warm humor , racism with harsh cruelties inherent with unsettling as well unpleasant main character , including his repressed emotions , frustrated career and family mistreat . According to author Pat Conroy, Lt. Col. Bull Meecham is based entirely on his own father, Donald Conroy, a Marine fighter pilot who referred to himself in the third person as "The Great Santini." Donald Conroy took the nickname from a magician he'd seen as a child ; in fact Pat and Donald Conroy were on the set on the day . Producers gratefully acknowledge the technical assistance of the US Marine Corps , in the production of this picture . The movie was virtually undistributed and originally released directly to cable and airlines, under the title "The Ace" , when the NY Times reviewed it very favorably, it was pulled from cable, and released due to critical acclaim to theaters under the title "The Great Santini" . Very good acting by Robert Duvall as an aggressively competitive, but frustrated marine pilot strictly related to his family with whom he shares a strident and sometimes fun love-hatred relationship . Skillful acting especially from the youngsters with special mention to Miles O'Keefe . And standout performance by Blythe Danner ; despite playing the mummy , Blythe Danner is only 12 years older than children Michael O'Keefe and Lisa Jane Persky . Secondary cast is pretty good such as Stan Shaw , Paul Gleeson , Paul Mantee , Michael Strong and David Keith film debut .Atmospheric cinematography by Ralph Woolsey , filmed on location in South Carolina and in Samuel Goldwyn studios , Hollywood Calif. Cameraman used lenses and Panaflex camera by Panavision , prints by Technicolor . In 1981, the movie got nods for nominated for Academy Awards to actor and supporting actor. Rousing musical score by the master Elmer Bernstein in his particular as well as martial style . The motion picture was professionally written and directed by Lewis Jon Carlino who extracted good performances and well-developed events .He is a writer and director, known for The mechanic , Mafia , Seconds ; having only directed three films : Class , The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea and this Great Santini .

TheUnknown837-1 Imagine a man who considers winning to be absolutely everything. He is like the coach of a sports team, yet he encompasses a far greater reach of authority. And yet, he wants even more authority and always seems to be getting it, because of his natural air of authority and others' natural air of backing down in the fright of his presence. He is a coach, a military man, a patriot, abusive, and to make things even more shocking: a father who just doesn't really know how to be one except his own way. And you have a picture of the type of character that Academy Award-winning actor Robert Duvall plays in this film. He got another nomination for the Academy Award in this film, although he unfortunately did not win it."The Great Santini" is a dramatic film near to perfection and one of the finest great movies of the 70s. Majority of the screen time is devoted to the relationship between Robert Duvall and his screen son, portrayed by Michael O'Keefe, also in an Oscar-nominated performance. The whole point of this is that O'Keefe is the oldest out of four children who have spent their whole life being raised, bullied, and commanded by Duvall. He runs their lives like a boot camp. There is no mercy, no generosity, and all you get for a good job, is a slap on the back. Duvall is trying to raise them in the best way he knows. He wants them to succeed in life, but the only method he knows that is effective is to be rough. And O'Keefe's character has decided he's had enough of being treated like a soldier in war.Every aspect in "The Great Santini" is developed and executed perfectly to a magnificent entertaining level. The varsity basketball game depicted in the film is just like watching a real high school ball game. It's not full of tough, imaginative lines. Nothing remarkable happens during it, and yet it is a powerful sequence and highly entertaining, almost as if you were sitting with the cheering and jeering friends and family members of the characters. There are also powerful messages about racism and violence in the film, performed through a friendship between the characters portrayed by Michael O'Keefe, Stan Shaw, and David Keith. It is an excellent subplot that is the next-to-most-important aspect of the story and it involves pretty much all of the characters in some way, shape, or form. It's not just an in-the-background tragedy."The Great Santini" plays out as a magnificent story, mostly revolving around the character played by Robert Duvall. As we see him, he goes on an off with his temper and general-like behavior, and we come to like and dislike him over the course of the film, respecting him as if he were a real person before us. While he's really nothing more than a fictional character being portrayed by a magnificent and talented actor, he is in his own way, one of the greatest heroes of film history. And he just wants everybody to see things his way.Recommended.

Hint523 The Great Santini is the story of a man in the Marines (Duvall) who's got a wife and four children. However, he's an alcoholic, and gets angry easily. When the family moves to Beufort, South Carolina, Santini makes a lot of pressure on his eldest son (O'Keefe) to avoid other the blacks and play basketball the best on his team. With all this pressure, the family goes nuts and crazy things happen. Although it's plot is that of a drama, Santini is a head-on comedy. Most everybody in the family will enjoy this, and is a must see. I rated it 8 out of ten stars because I really liked it, but the end seemed to drag on a lot. Worth seeing, funny, dramatic and enjoyable!