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One-Eyed Jacks (1961)

Rate: 9
Viewed: 7/05, 7/17, 5/25

OneEye
7/05: Thanks to Stanley Kubrick bowing out of the project, Marlon Brando directed only one film in his life, and it's called One-Eyed Jacks.

A Western with many twists and turns, Marlon Brando steals the show. Charles Lang's Oscar-nominated cinematography is 100% excellent. There are many mind-blowing scenes such as Marlon Brando on the sand hills and the oceanfront with the waves crashing. It's like watching a foreign film.

Archie Marshek gets the most credit for making the movie possible because Marlon Brando was delegated the task to edit it from a million feet of reel and, true to form, subsequently gave up. Yes, the pace is deliberately slow, but there's so much to look at and the story pays off dividends over time.

All in all, if Stanley Kubrick had directed One-Eyed Jacks, I would've fallen asleep; hence, it's a good thing that Marlon Brando did.

7/17: Criterion Collection treated One-Eyed Jacks with a 4K digital restoration, and the film looks absolutely gorgeous.

Thus, it's not hard to see why the single Oscar nomination went to Charles Lang for Best Cinematography. One-Eyed Jacks is the only film Marlon Brando ever directed. It works for a Western picture, being unique that's almost Unforgiven before there was Unforgiven.

Karl Malden plays a mean backstabber convincingly well. Watch his eyes, and that's when I knew he was going to amp it up at key moments. Marlon Brando is terrific and the most handsome of them all. He keeps himself subdued and laidback, never making a grandiose show. By underplaying his role, he gives more and more to the film that it's hard to get enough of him. It's a testament to Marlon Brando's acting greatness.

Once upon a time, from Mexico, Katy Jurado was one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood. It's not hard to understand why Marlon Brando was smitten with her after seeing High Noon. She's not bad in One-Eyed Jacks, looking a bit older than anticipated. On the other hand, Pina Pellicer may have taken acting too far to the point of melodramatic. She needs to tone it down and try to vary her approach. It's literally the same thing in almost every scene: a desperate plea with her quivering chin and fluttering eyes. Sadly, Pina Pellicer committed suicide in 1964 at the age of 30, and the cause of death is presumed to be depression.

All in all, One-Eyed Jacks is a beautifully shot Western picture.

5/25: One-Eyed Jacks still holds up, thanks to Marlon Brando and Charles Lang.