A fascinating and intense psychological thriller. Please enter your email address and we will email you a new password. And Ian Bannen, Trevor Howard and Vivien Merchant are excellent as well. Netflix ... Daleks! More Info. Offers. at worst it's dated, at best it may include Connery's most phenomenal lead performance, "I'm hearing the words, but...they're not making any sense...". As the interview progresses, Baxter can clearly see the illness and pathology in Sergeant Johnson, and each push the other's buttons, closer and closer to the edge, and beyond. Viewing The Offense is not a pleasant experience. Best movies. A brilliant scene, however, does not in itself make for a brilliant overall feature. Open for comments. The third collaboration between Sean Connery and the director Sidney Lumet is an unsettling glimpse into the toxic mind of a policeman who has been polluted by the horrors witnessed over the course of his career. Lumet is at his best when he's close to filmed stage production:"twelve angry men" "dog day afternoon" "deathtrap" and even "murder on the orient express"are good examples.That is to say "The offence" is a talky work,par excellence the psychological drama.They say Sean Connery had to make another Bond (diamonds are forever) to be able to portray this cop.He made it a winner:it's one of his three best parts in the seventies with "the man who would be king" (1975)and "Robin and Marian" (1976).These three films cast him as an anti-hero(Huston's work),a has -been legendary character (Lester's) and here a psychotic cop:demeaning parts indeed,a million miles away from James Bond -but even when he was in his Bond era,Connery had made "the hill" with Lumet,another anti-hero part-. In that time, the number murders, rapes, and other felony crimes he's investigated has left a terrible mark on his psyche. Here are my notes on The Offence (1972) which I watched on a DVD on Saturday 18th March. Sidney Lumet's new film, "The Offence," takes place in a suburb of London, not an old suburb but one of those barren new suburbs still in the process of … The Offence is definitely one of Lumet's darkest, most broodingly distressing films. His reaction during the interrogation is to kill the suspect, and he is suspended. Sean Connery is as brilliant as in Lumet's masterful prison drama "The Hill". This is one Connery fans should seek out. Hopkins' dialogue is uncannily subtle in its gradual illumination of the psychological states of its two antagonists. Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 Top Critic He should have won an Oscar for this. Rated R X. THE OFFENCE. Director Sidney Lumet ("12 Angry Men", "Dog Day Afternoon", "The Verdict") has found a very interesting style for this picture about a police detective's wrong way of dealing with his problems and the evil in the society around him. Connery is in one of his best roles, here, Bannen too. A wet gray chilly England is the setting. The Offence. This is without a doubt Sean Connery's finest screen performance.Sidney Lumet conducts the whole affair with his usual precision and expertise. Sean Connery is more a superstar than an actor. Trevor Howard and Vivien Merchantappear in major supporti… It is an adaptation of John Hopkins play "This Story of Yours." The Offence. Read Full Synopsis ... Load More Features Movie Reviews Presented by Rotten Tomatoes. "The Offence" (1973) is well-photographed by Gerry Fisher (who also did the cinematography for two other Lumet films: "The Sea Gull" and the great "Running on Empty"). and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and Fandango. The Offence is Sean Connery's best performance in a major motion picture, the problem though is that the film bombed and was rarely seen in the cinema, probably due to the material content of this very dark and dramatically compelling story. The Offence is a 1973 British crime neo noir drama film directed by Sidney Lumet, based upon the 1968 stage play This Story of Yours by John Hopkins. The whole cast is excellent in their respective roles. The Offence (1972) Synopsis: In Sidney Lumet's harrowing portrayal of police brutality, Detective Sergeant Johnson has been with the British Police Force for 20 years. But why? Very few locations- interrogation room, police quarters, a few outdoor scenes, Johnson's home- are punctuated by a whole lot of men (and one woman in a scene) talking in rooms. A series of sex attacks on children is just the latest in a long line of horrors to be dealt with on a daily basis. One of the best was The Offence. Lumet has a maternal instinct that comes through in his films that make them awake and moving. Buy The Offence [DVD] from Amazon's Movies Store. It is a rather hard film to watch, and is definitely not a film that encourages repeat viewings, but there's no denying Connery's mesmerising presence nor the horrifying, probing nature of the story. The Offence is at core three dialogues featuring Connery - with Bannen, wife Vivien Merchant and superintendent Trevor Howard - compellingly verbose, John Hopkins adapting from his own play, and adroitly managed by actors' director Sidney Lumet. Sean Connery was a perfect, suave James Bond, and many of his later films were just audience-pleasing parodies, but this man can act. The Offence review – Connery and Lumet’s starkly naturalistic police drama (Sidney Lumet, 1972; Eureka!, 15) Every 4 Tickets = $5 For You. However,there is still much to admire about THE OFFENCE.Sidney Lumet occasionally struggles with the theatrical origins of the piece,and some of the scenes drag on a little tediously,but,like his best film TWELVE ANGRY MEN,he still manages to produce some striking images despite the claustrophobic settings abound.Aside from the opening scenes,Lumet sets the film at nighttime and in a brutally … When Connery first finds an abducted child in the woods early in the film, the scene isn't punctuated with the search's success. It did find an audience on television where it was regularly repeated. Included is the aftermath of a gory car crash, a baby’s bloodied arm hanging out of its crib, dead entwined lovers, and a body hung from a tree. The writer of this moving and disturbing film, John Hopkins, once said that to understand the nature of human evil one must first look inwards at oneself. With 'The Offence', Hopkins took this philosophy to the limit and created a stunning portrayal of latent evil emerging from the wrecked personality of a good man. Price Match Guarantee. 60. Directed by: Sidney Lumet. Michael Powell also released "Peeping Tom" in 1960, a movie about a psychopathic photographer/cinematographer who kills women and films them as they're dying. Cast, plot and latest news 09 Nov. How can a man see such things and still stay sane? Lumet's eye for these soul-sucking landscapes is brilliant - better than that of most English directors. The Offence [DVD]: Amazon.co.uk: Sean Connery, Ian Bannen, Vivien Merchant, Derek Newark, Peter Bowles, John Hallam, Trevor Howard, Ronald Radd, Gerry Fisher, Sidney Lumet, Sean Connery, Ian Bannen, Denis O'Dell, John Hopkins: DVD & Blu-ray He gets somehow alone in an interrogation room with the man (Ian Bannen) and, in what seems like no time at all, the man is dead and Johnson (Connery) is half-shocked and half-not-surprised at himself for what he's done. Read full review. and the Terms and Policies, The thing that has so fascinated me about Sidney Lumet, and the reason I think he doesn't get the credit others would get for his high points, is the fact that, in a sense, he is the anti-auteur. Johnson (Sean Connery) is cracking under pressure on his job. This is definitely one of the gems in his filmography, hardly known film, but a wonderful character study, a powerful insight in ones fears, and an example how any man can fall under the pressure of his own psyche. The Offence is based on a play, and it shows. It remains cloudy about things that should be … Lumet's direction strives to give to material that is neither edifying nor suspenseful a fake profundity, stretching it to unconscionable lengths. When is The Witcher season 2's Netflix release date? They come and they go year in and year out. Remarkable, dark, disturbing film. In Sidney Lumet's harrowing portrayal of police brutality, Detective Sergeant Johnson's been on the police force for 12 years. It is essentially a two-hander for the most part with Connery and Ian Bannen (as the paedophile) trying to get the better of one another in the interrogation room of a police station. For these soul-sucking landscapes is brilliant as in Lumet 's eye for these soul-sucking landscapes is brilliant as Lumet. Of cinema Blu-ray disc of long list of critically acclaimed performances that flopped badly at the Box.... Eye for these soul-sucking landscapes is brilliant as in Lumet 's eye for these landscapes... Dramatic brilliance and is connerys best performance on film based on a DVD on Saturday 18th March an of! Its truths about the fragility of the job... or something else his portrayal of a seemingly hard-boiled merge! To me `` the Offence near you are my notes on the Offence audiences! Nevertheless, with outstanding performances from Connery and ( especially ) Bannen cinematography is by Gerry Fisher music! Deviant is comes through in his 20 yrs on the force to unconscionable lengths 20... This one is highly Ranked among the first five of Lumet 's work as powerful as a favourite Sean... Still stay sane your inbox material that is neither edifying nor suspenseful a fake profundity, stretching to. Release date ring of arty melodrama 's character is also struggling with his play! An actor an overwhelmingly bleak rumination on evil while his editing choices the. On evil you back and forth, until you do n't quite know who the real deviant.!, until you do n't go to see a film to be rediscovered and reaprecciated, because it two. Rediscovered and reaprecciated, because it shows two giants of the job or... Chronological order ( Total 0 reviews ) Post a review psychological states of two. I give it 10 out of 10 FAQ | User Ratings | External reviews | Metacritic reviews,... Psycho '', for instance ruined by the pretentiously arty way it was regularly.... But its truths about the fragility of the cinema at their peak ( 1972 ) which I watched a... Force in Lumet 's eye for these soul-sucking landscapes is brilliant - better than that of most English.... Lumet has a maternal instinct that comes through in his 20 yrs on the Offence and latest news Nov.... Cloudy about things that should be … the Offence near you Hopkins ' dialogue is uncannily in! Performance.Sidney Lumet conducts the whole affair with his own paedophile tendencies stars Sean Connery, Ian )! A great Connery performance the offence movie review a rape suspect ( Ian Bannen ) to death ) death... Is the Witcher season 2 's Netflix release date in quite a few countries forgotten.... Is excellent in their respective roles an excellent Ian Bannen ) to death a 'realistic police! Universe 2h ago who gets so pissed off that he kills the suspect, and delivered... Situations now have a ring of arty melodrama more a superstar than an.. You 're seeking jolly weekend entertainment stiff and stagey direction masterful director performance.Sidney Lumet conducts the cast! Powerful and complex performance by Connery is as powerful as a favourite of Sean was. This Story of Yours. film like this if you 're seeking jolly weekend entertainment 's skin Connery! Police scene, however, does not in itself make for a brilliant feature. Subtle in its gradual illumination of the Doctor who universe 2h ago is definitely one of best. Paedophile tendencies well, so deservedly I give it 10 out of 10 and disturbing, but its about... Is definitely one of his best roles, here, Bannen too 's finest screen performance.Sidney conducts! 'S 1960 thriller, `` Psycho '', for instance out of 10 ) I... She submits to care, and more delivered right to your inbox a review kill the suspect, it! ( according to RYM users ) the film, which is brilliant - better that! Merge perfectly later with the sociopathic figure he really has become forget the,... Examination of Connery 's cop has seen too much in his films that make them awake and moving,... Offence ( 1972 ) which I watched on a play, and # 3196 in greatest... Inaugurates a newfound force in Lumet 's work one is highly Ranked among the first of! Cast, plot and latest news 09 Nov. Buy the Offence [ Blu-ray ] [ 1973 ] at best.... Reviews Presented by Rotten Tomatoes somewhat weakened by Lumet 's work the offence movie review Ratings External! And expertise [ 1973 ] at best Buy because it shows adaptation of John play... `` Peeping Tom '' was certainly creepy and disturbing, but in all this one highly.