Rebel Without a Cause

Starring: James Dean, Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo, Jim Backus, Ann Doran, Corey Allen, William Hopper, Dennis Hopper
Directed by: Nicholas Ray
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama
1955

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A rebellious young man (James Dean) moves to a new town and has an unforgettable day of highs and lows as he makes friends and enemies.

Review:

Tim: James Dean, especially James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause has taken on almost mythic qualities in Hollywood. It's one of the definitive films of the 1950s. And yet, I have to be honest in my reviews- I believe part of the reason this film was so beloved is because of the circumstances surrounding the movie's release. As any true movie fan knows, James Dean died shortly before this film was released. It was the manner of his death- a horrendous car accident, likely due to speeding- that further cemented his legacy of the "rebel without a cause". I truly believe that his death made this movie seem better than it was to many, many people. Make no mistake, this is a thoroughly entertaining, incredibly solid movie. But a truly great film? I have my doubts.

The story is interesting, as it really works as an examination of the youth generation in the 1950s. It speaks volumes about people at that age, at that point in history. The breaking away from innocence, the movement away from their parent's values, the embracing of new cultural norms, new values, new freedom- it all shows up here. If this movie gets close to greatness, it's in the examination of generational differences. That part of the movie is really, really interesting.

The film centers around three main characters. James Dean is obviously the main character. I admit he looks cool in that red jacket, but I was surprised that his performance here became so iconic. I mean, he's pretty good in the role. He has some believable moments, but he also has quite a few moments of overacting. I honestly believe he was the weakest of the three main characters (and the fact that the other two received Academy Award nominations while he didn't backs me up). He was certainly a tortured teen- the scenes of his inner turmoil and anguish are among his greatest moments in the film. I liked him here, but I didn't love him. Natalie Wood gives a better performance. She's a complex character and I enjoyed seeing the different sides of her. As mentioned, she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Now, I do have to say her character was in some ways the biggest issue I had with this film. She watches her boyfriend die a horribly violent, shocking death. And then the next day, she starts a new relationship and seems genuinely happy. You could argue she was in shock or simply coping in an unhealthy way. Regardless of her motivations, it came across as illogical and simply not believable in the least. Would any normal teenage girl react to tragedy the way she did? I seriously doubt it. I kept wondering what the heck was going on with her character- it wasn't even weeks later, it was the same night and the next day. It was just so bizarre.

I also need to mention Sal Mineo, who received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor- and deserved it. I think Mineo gave the best performance of the film. He is haunting in his portrayal of this lost, delusional young man. It's a fascinating performance- you alternatively feel so bad for Plato, but you also feel anger at his actions. He's a messed up kid, but his dysfunction is quiet, subtle. It's a remarkable performance from a young actor and it was my favorite of the film. On a quick side note, it was fun seeing Dennis Hopper in a minuscule, early career part.

I wish I could have loved this movie- I went into it with great excitement about seeing a landmark film. I did really, really like it- it's a solid, entertaining movie. I get why people were so taken with it, especially when you add Dean's tragic, untimely death to the film's legacy. However, I can't claim I loved the movie, I can't go so far as to say it's a truly great movie. It gets close, but simply not close enough.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



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