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Lust for Life (1956)
Lust for Life (1956)
1956 | Classics, Drama
8
7.5 (2 Ratings)
Movie Rating
In yet another attempt to widen his range, Douglas was a surprising yet perfect choice to play tortured artist Vincent Van Gogh, in his 3rd and final Oscar nominated role. He was custom made to portray the wild passion and intensity of the artist, but it was his quiet moments of calm genius that really impressed. This time he lost the award to Yul Brynner for The King and I, as big, colourful productions began to dominate; also watching on as co-star Anthony Quinn picked up best supporting actor. There are rumours Douglas was less than happy to lose out, and he made a personal vow to soon enter the arena in a big epic that would sweep the board… Although many believe his artistic star had peaked here with the more subtle Lust For Life.
  
The Man Who Killed Don Quixote (2018)
The Man Who Killed Don Quixote (2018)
2018 | Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Terry Gilliam emerges victorious from his epic battle to the death with Miguel Cervantes' famous novel. Not quite the movie he famously never finished making with Johnny Depp, nearly twenty years ago, but a subtly different tale of a film director finding himself entangled in different versions of the Quixote story and, perhaps, looking for redemption.

After a slow and rambling start the film eventually becomes a charming, funny, and occasionally thrilling and moving adaptation (sort of) of the book - if it's picaresque and episodic, that's the nature of Quixote. The knowing wit and intelligence of the novel survive too. Strong performances, visually very impressive - the fact the film exists at all is remarkable, let alone that it's this good. Very reminiscent of Gilliam's movies from the 1980s: hugely imaginative, narratively chaotic, very individual, and equally easy to like.