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Sunday Bloody Sunday (1971)

Rate: 9
Viewed: 6/15

6/15: John Schlesinger was among the best directors to come out of England during the 60's.

Two years after the über classic Midnight Cowboy, he did Sunday Bloody Sunday. The title seems to indicate some kind of violent catastrophe that will occur at some point, but it never happens. Rather, it's about how Bob Elkin is placed at the center of two people. He's like a rock to them in terms of support. When he leaves them, it becomes apparent that the whole thing is about relationships. Hence, that's the brilliance of John Schlesinger's direction.

A lot of films tend to be largely driven by either the performances, the story, the director, the dialogue, or the cinematography. Sunday Bloody Sunday is all of them. The pace has never been so lively. John Schlesinger displays different perspectives of how the characters feel, act, and behave.

The performances by Peter Finch, Glenda Jackson, and Murray Head are at once extraordinary and daring. The two actors put their careers on the line by going further given the topic, and I applaud their efforts. Although Peter Finch and Glenda Jackson were Oscar-nominated, it's Murray Head who deserved it the most. One-dimensional yet alluring, he nails his character perfectly. By the way, remember the scene of a boy vandalizing the car with a broken glass bottle? That's Daniel Day-Lewis. Who knew he would go on to be a three-time Oscar winner?

All in all, Sunday Bloody Sunday is a brilliant, unassuming drama about adult relationships.

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