[FilmReview]PointBlank(1967)8.1/10

Abetrayed,taciturnlonerclinicallyexactshisrevengeinJohnBoorman’sPOINTBLANK,whichstylishlyepitomizestheone-man-against-an-evil-organizationtrope,starringLeeMarvinasthefirst-name-eludedWalker,oneofhismosteminentcharacterthattapsintothetime-honoredappealofwoundedmasculinity.Marvin’sstarcharismaisunequivocallyputintogreatuseherewithahard-boiledpatinaandanaloofcontainmentofcynicism,double-crossedbyhisbestfriendMalReese(Vernon),whoalsotakesawayhiswifeLynne(Acker),Walker’sascendencyasahell-bentone-trackmindstripshimofallotherearthlytrappings(emotionincluded)buthispecuniaryrestitution,eventheproactiveapproachingofLynne’ssultrysisterChris(Dickinson,vampedupwithappreciabledepthintoaseductress’seesawingpsyche)canhardlystirhispresenceofmind,pairedwithhisastuteluciditywhengrapplingwithhissinisterbutcluelessantagonists(crammedwithmemorablesupportingturnslikealecheroussleazeintheformofJohnVernon,orasuavebutschemingLloydBochner,eventuallyhoistedbyhisownpetard)inbottom-upexpediency,hisfinalwordlessfadingintothedarknessisatrenchantretorttoaworldsuffusedwithviceandavarice,sardonically,Walkerneverliquidatesanyonewithhisownhands.Saliently,Boormanvisualizesanunorthodoxeditingmodusoperanditospiceuptheaction,fromthetreacherousprologue,toitsmeasuredambushwiththeorganization’ssupremo,aidedbyeditorHenryBerman’sstudiousdexterity,itdefiesaudience’swontviewinghabitbystrewingtheplotwithfleetingflashbackthatimpingesonthefilmx27;scoherencebutwhipsupaquainttensionthatstrangelybuttressesitsthinlypanned-outstoryanditsNeo-noirmores.Ascoolasacucumber,POINTBLANKpointedlyretainsitsepoch-reflectingatmosphericsandvigorousmode,asoundtestimonyofBoorman’sstupendousversatilityandMarvin’sindeliblescreenincarnationthatwouldemanatehugeimpactonitsmanyacinematicprogeny,aflintyenforcerwhomnothingcanholdback.companionpieces:DonSiegel’sTHEKILLERS(1964,5.3/10);Boorman’sEXCALIBUR(1981,7.2/10),HOPEANDGLORY(1987,7.7/10).本文版权归作者他他所有，任何形式转载请联系作者。