if you read The Friedkin Connection, he explains all the reasons Sorcerer bombed. The confusing title, too ambiguous , no girls, no good guys, and oh yeah a small movie came out the same week about a galactic empire, a rebellion, a princess & a death star. Audiences tastes changed
Loved the discussion of “Sorceror”, and yes, the very first film I was scrolling to see sadly isn’t here, a shame you weren’t able to find coverage. Pretty sure they both loved “To Live and Die”, a personal fav of mine.
Friedkin was a bright guy and definitely knew the classic films and techniques if you watch interviews with him on UA-cam. He definitely was not afraid to speak his mind or share an opinion. It's a shame his work kind of fell off after the 80s. The Exorcist and The French Connection back to back will stand the test of time. Sorcerer and To Live and Die in L.A. are both very underrated in my opinion.
Bug & Killer Joe are both incredibly unique & uncompromising films. I'm glad Friedkin ended his career with two noteworthy works. While they're not favorites for a general wide audience necessarily, they are masterful works of tension, subversion & complex moral ambiguity with great performances, pacing & tone.
Great compilations. I Just saw Sorcerer for the first time a couple weeks ago..in a theatre! I didn’t think it was the masterpiece some think it is, but it’s a cool film. I’ve had the soundtrack on vinyl for years.
Timing’s often everything in show biz, and in the case of when “Sorcerer” was released, it was bad timing. It came out one month after “Star Wars” and “Smokey and the Bandit,” the year’s two biggest hits---came out and one week after the wretched “Exorcist II: The Heretic” came out. So “Sorcerer” had to overcome a one-two punch from blockbusters and an “Exorcist” sequel that likely made the “Sorcerer” title even more of a crutch. Many movie-goers probably figured Friedkin directed both. The "Sorcerer" producers couldn't have predicted the first two films' huge success, but they damn well surely knew when "Exorcist II" was coming out and should've made more of an effort to distinguish "Sorcerer" from it.
It's crazy to watch that Sorcerer review from 1977 and realize... If audiences missed it in the theaters they literally could never see the movie. Not until VHS rolled around years later. It gives such a different context to the S&E review.
I've been meaning to revisit Cruising again for sometime, on my initial watch of the film I could sense the vague ambiguity as fairly intentional and even the last shot potentially suggesting that there may be multiple killers or even Pacino's character as suspect, possibly unconsciously. An unsolved series of murders is not uncommon nowdays of course, in film or in reality. But, all that aside . . . SORCERER!
Did they not do To Live & Die In LA?! If not, I’d be very curious how they would have approached the tense and violent joyride that it is back in the 1980s.
@@LannieLord listen to the commentary track with friedkin and mark kermode. pacino was under a lot of pressure from people protesting the movie and calling him derogatory terms while on the street filming. i think it got to him.
Sorceror probably suffered from the Halloween III: Season of the Witch problem. The title didn't meet audience expectations. The fact that Star Wars came out the same time was the straw that broke the truck's back.
The French Connection, The Exorcist, Sorcerer, To Live and Die in LA, Killer Joe - how many do you need? And some will make an argument for Cruising or even his stellar TV work. Don't be putting this man down, I'll be watching all of the above forever.
@@plasticweapon You're dead wrong about Killer Joe. That film was fantastic, country fried Noir about trailer trash and a maniacal killer. That was one of Friedkin's best.
if you read The Friedkin Connection, he explains all the reasons Sorcerer bombed. The confusing title, too ambiguous , no girls, no good guys, and oh yeah a small movie came out the same week about a galactic empire, a rebellion, a princess & a death star. Audiences tastes changed
I love these compilations, Sorcerer is my favorite Friedkin movie
Loved the discussion of “Sorceror”, and yes, the very first film I was scrolling to see sadly isn’t here, a shame you weren’t able to find coverage. Pretty sure they both loved “To Live and Die”, a personal fav of mine.
4 stars in Eberts book
Sorcerer is such an underrated gem. That drawbridge scene is breathtaking and intense!
Youre thinking of Excalibur with that drawbridge. That ain't no drawbridge in Sorcerer.
@@RumourdProd Then bridge.
Friedkin was a bright guy and definitely knew the classic films and techniques if you watch interviews with him on UA-cam.
He definitely was not afraid to speak his mind or share an opinion.
It's a shame his work kind of fell off after the 80s. The Exorcist and The French Connection back to back will stand the test of time. Sorcerer and To Live and Die in L.A. are both very underrated in my opinion.
He did terrific work from the 1980's onward.
@@ricardocantoral7672 Such as what? Blue Chips? Lol
@@STONESGAM To Live and Die in LA, Rampage, The Hunted, and Killer Joe. Of those I mentioned, I would place Killer Joe among his very best work.
Thank you for putting these together, I’m currently addicted to Siskel and Ebert reviews.
They are VERY RELAXING to watch !
Very relaxing.
I miss these guys.
They beat Rotten Tomatoes any day.
Sorcerer is an absolute masterpiece! That bridge scene still gives me sweaty palms when i see it
Bug & Killer Joe are both incredibly unique & uncompromising films. I'm glad Friedkin ended his career with two noteworthy works. While they're not favorites for a general wide audience necessarily, they are masterful works of tension, subversion & complex moral ambiguity with great performances, pacing & tone.
His last film was The Caine Mutiny Court Martial.
Bug seems to be very underrated I loved it
They’re really needs to be a restored 4K version of Rampage. It’s a decent thriller can look much better than it does now.
Your wishes have been answered, Kino Lorber is releasing remastered 4K Bluray of it this year. I'm eagerly waiting for that too.
Great compilations. I Just saw Sorcerer for the first time a couple weeks ago..in a theatre! I didn’t think it was the masterpiece some think it is, but it’s a cool film. I’ve had the soundtrack on vinyl for years.
How did you see it in a theater ?
No no no, it is the masterpiece you don't think it is.
Timing’s often everything in show biz, and in the case of when “Sorcerer” was released, it was bad timing. It came out one month after “Star Wars” and “Smokey and the Bandit,” the year’s two biggest hits---came out and one week after the wretched “Exorcist II: The Heretic” came out. So “Sorcerer” had to overcome a one-two punch from blockbusters and an “Exorcist” sequel that likely made the “Sorcerer” title even more of a crutch. Many movie-goers probably figured Friedkin directed both. The "Sorcerer" producers couldn't have predicted the first two films' huge success, but they damn well surely knew when "Exorcist II" was coming out and should've made more of an effort to distinguish "Sorcerer" from it.
RIP Siskel, Ebert, and Friedkin
To Live And Die…. Is excluded? How rude and disappointing 😢
I highly recommend the film Will directed in 2013, Killer Joe. That was a great neo-noir/black comic masterpiece.
that was the worst thing he ever made.
@@plasticweapon
Nope.
It's crazy to watch that Sorcerer review from 1977 and realize... If audiences missed it in the theaters they literally could never see the movie. Not until VHS rolled around years later. It gives such a different context to the S&E review.
Any chance of a George Romero compilation?
I know this random but make a Michael Ritchie comp
Cruising is much better than these guys give it credit for. It's disturbing and ambiguous, no other 80's movie was allowed to be both.
I've been meaning to revisit Cruising again for sometime, on my initial watch of the film I could sense the vague ambiguity as fairly intentional and even the last shot potentially suggesting that there may be multiple killers or even Pacino's character as suspect, possibly unconsciously. An unsolved series of murders is not uncommon nowdays of course, in film or in reality. But, all that aside . . . SORCERER!
Bug was awesome fun
Did they not do To Live & Die In LA?! If not, I’d be very curious how they would have approached the tense and violent joyride that it is back in the 1980s.
Michael Phillips AO Scott Reviews Reissue Of The Exorcist We Say See It In May 2010 Of DVD Out Now!
It sucks that you had to skip To Live and Die in L. A.
Cruising is actually a great film but I agree Pacino sucks in it. Should've been Richard Gere.
Too dangerous a choice for gerbils.
Cruising is , if nothing else , VERY interesting indeed. Pacino was only as he was directed -
@@LannieLord listen to the commentary track with friedkin and mark kermode. pacino was under a lot of pressure from people protesting the movie and calling him derogatory terms while on the street filming. i think it got to him.
It would of been too similar to “American Gigolo” if Gere did it.
AHHH! YES!
Sorceror probably suffered from the Halloween III: Season of the Witch problem. The title didn't meet audience expectations. The fact that Star Wars came out the same time was the straw that broke the truck's back.
“Sorcerer” is underrated.
No Exorcist or French Connection sucks, but these compilations are great though. Thanks?
Sorcerer!!!!
Cruising is a bad movie? Such a bad take.
I love Exorcist and French Connection but I’m realizing Friedkin made a lot of bad movies.
According to these schmucks
He made some poor films but he also made excellent ones.
The French Connection, The Exorcist, Sorcerer, To Live and Die in LA, Killer Joe - how many do you need? And some will make an argument for Cruising or even his stellar TV work. Don't be putting this man down, I'll be watching all of the above forever.
no he didn't. but there were a few (especially that abortion killer joe).
@@plasticweapon You're dead wrong about Killer Joe. That film was fantastic, country fried Noir about trailer trash and a maniacal killer. That was one of Friedkin's best.