{"id":4668,"date":"2007-11-15T13:44:16","date_gmt":"2007-11-15T20:44:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=4668"},"modified":"2021-02-02T14:52:30","modified_gmt":"2021-02-02T21:52:30","slug":"wise-blood-1979","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=4668","title":{"rendered":"Wise Blood (1979)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;I don&#8217;t have to run away from anything, &#8217;cause I don&#8217;t believe in anything.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Poster1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Poster1-190x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"190\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-23323\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Poster1-190x300.jpg 190w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Poster1-81x128.jpg 81w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Poster1.jpg 580w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 190px) 100vw, 190px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nAn angry young veteran (Brad Dourif) returns to his small Southern town determined to decry the hypocrisy of its citizens. After witnessing a supposedly self-blinded preacher (Harry Dean Stanton) and his grown daughter (Amy Wright) passing out religious tracts, Hazel (Dourif) is inspired to start his own church &#8212; the Church of Christ Without Christ, &#8220;where the blind don&#8217;t see and the lame don&#8217;t walk and what&#8217;s dead stays that way.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Black Comedy<\/li>\n<li>Deep South<\/li>\n<li>Harry Dean Stanton Films<\/li>\n<li>John Huston Films<\/li>\n<li>Ned Beatty Films<\/li>\n<li>Religious Faith<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nJohn Huston&#8217;s darkly comedic adaptation of Flannery O&#8217;Connor&#8217;s 1952 novel is a wild ride through a Southern Gothic universe in which quirkiness, corruption, and hypocrisy are the norm. Brad Dourif &#8212; with his intense, beady gaze &#8212; ably carries the film, keeping us interested in Hazel&#8217;s fate even when events take a decidedly downbeat turn; other performances are equally memorable &#8212; particularly Amy Wright as a young woman who takes an immediate (sexual) interest in Hazel; Harry Dean Stanton as a &#8220;blind&#8221; preacher who represents everything Dourif could eventually become; and Dan Shor as a clingy stranger who is inexplicably desperate for Hazel&#8217;s approval. Unfortunately, the characters in <em>Wise Blood<\/em> are ultimately more interesting than the narrative itself, which fails to capitalize on its heady potential: key figures (such as Ned Beatty&#8217;s shyster) are barely given enough screen time to register, and Hazel&#8217;s Church Without Christ never develops much of a following. Nonetheless, this is enough of an unusual cult favorite to recommend as must-see viewing for all film fanatics. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Brad Dourif as Hazel<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Dourif4.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Dourif4-1024x568.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"355\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-68119\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Dourif4-1024x568.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Dourif4-300x166.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Dourif4-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Dourif4-768x426.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Dourif4-1536x852.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Dourif4-487x270.png 487w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Dourif4-1038x576.png 1038w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Dourif4.png 1829w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Dan Shor as Hazel&#8217;s loyal &#8220;disciple&#8221;, Enoch<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Shor.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Shor-1024x581.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"363\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-68116\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Shor-1024x581.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Shor-300x170.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Shor-128x73.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Shor-768x435.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Shor-1536x871.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Shor-476x270.png 476w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Shor.png 1815w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Amy Wright as Sabbath<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Wright.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Wright-1024x577.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"361\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-68115\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Wright-1024x577.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Wright-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Wright-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Wright-768x433.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Wright-1536x866.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Wright-479x270.png 479w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Wright.png 1815w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Harry Dean Stanton as Asa Hawks<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Stanton.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Stanton-1024x578.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"361\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-68117\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Stanton-1024x578.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Stanton-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Stanton-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Stanton-768x434.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Stanton-1536x867.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Stanton-478x270.png 478w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Stanton.png 1805w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Fine cinematography and period detail<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Period.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Period-1024x575.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"359\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-68120\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Period-1024x575.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Period-300x168.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Period-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Period-768x431.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Period-1536x862.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Period-481x270.png 481w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Wise-Blood-Period.png 1819w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Many clever, colorful lines of dialogue:<br \/>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;She sho&#8217; was ugly. She had these here brown glasses, and her hair was so thin it looked like ham gravy trickling over her skull.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, for its status as a cult favorite. Listed in the back of Peary&#8217;s book as a Cult Movie and a Personal Recommendation. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cult Movie<\/li>\n<li>Important Director<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/imdb.com\/title\/tt0080140\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/metalasylum.com\/ragingbull\/movies\/best1979.html#wise\">Raging Bull Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.talkingpix.co.uk\/ReviewsWideblood.html\">Talking Pictures Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeout.com\/movies\/wise-blood\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t have to run away from anything, &#8217;cause I don&#8217;t believe in anything.&#8221; Synopsis: An angry young veteran (Brad Dourif) returns to his small Southern town determined to decry the hypocrisy of its citizens. After witnessing a supposedly self-blinded preacher (Harry Dean Stanton) and his grown daughter (Amy Wright) passing out religious tracts, Hazel (Dourif) is inspired to start his own church &#8212; the Church of Christ Without Christ, &#8220;where the blind don&#8217;t see and the lame don&#8217;t walk&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=4668\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4668","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4668","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4668"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4668\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":68121,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4668\/revisions\/68121"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4668"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4668"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4668"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}