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Rated The Hudsucker Proxy 10/10

I love The Hudsucker Proxy. It’s one of a handful of films that took my love of cinema to a new level.  Aye, it’s a subversion of Frank Capra’s films, but it’s made with so much warmth and love. The lovingly recreated styling shows just how much they think of their inspiration. They just don’t share his blind optimism. Norville doesn’t get to the top through pluck and gumption, he lucks into it by being the <i>wrong</i> guy at the right time. That’s capitalism for you. And then just as quickly, he goes out the same way as his predecessor. The American dream is shown as empty and vapid, instead of its purity in Capra’s movies.  Favourite performances for me are Paul Newman’s gruff Mussberger and Jennifer Jason Leigh’s Hepburn inspired Amy Archer. These two are the prime cynics here, the characters with real power, subverting the story and corrupting the characters around them. Capra’s work has always been ripe for parody. Those films were always a little daft and fantastical. Terry Gilliam had kind of been here before with Brazil, but his subversion was much more absurd, and maybe less warm. Someone is bound to have another go at it in the future. I’ll be in the front row when they do. It’s the circle of life ⭕️

#movie

Published 2026-01-01 00:00 UTC · bridged from Atmosphere