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The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter (1968)
Rate:
8
Viewed:
2/17
2/17:
Brace yourself because The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter is truly a depressing movie and is as Southern Gothic as
it gets.
There are seven subplots going on at once:
1. Discrimination against blacks.
2. Mick's troubled adolescence and her inability to connect with others.
3. Singer not being able to take care of his friend.
4. The troubles of a drunkard.
5. Mick's disabled father.
6. Dr. Copeland's relationship with his daughter.
7. How people react to Singer's deafness by labeling him as a "dummy."
The book was written in 1940 by Carson McCullers, her first, and she became famous as a result. She also wrote
Reflections in a Golden Eye, which was published in 1941, that
would be made into a movie starring Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando, directed by John Huston. With four novels
to her credit, Carson McCullers died in 1967 without seeing the film version of either.
Alan Arkin received a much-deserved Oscar nomination for his performance. He didn't speak one word throughout which
is impressive. The ending that showed him dealing with the news of his friend is both powerful and shocking. As
for Alan Arkin's portrayal of a deaf-mute, I have to say he got the part right yet wasn't authentic enough to pass
muster.
On the other hand, it's hard for me to evaluate Arkin's ASL. The signs are sometimes too fast and partly sideways.
At first, I thought they were made up, but I realize now some of them are antiquated which means people don't sign
them that way anymore. Instead, I spent the time trying to figure out a closely related sign. When he was
fingerspelling, it seemed quick and a bit messy. Hence, I was unable to make them out. Look, my criticism is for
film purpose because it doesn't matter. He communicated in a mumbling way that Brando would do, yet his character
was real all the same.
As far as speechreading goes for Arkin's character, it's not possible. The most he would've
grasped is 30%. Many people didn't speak to him face-to-face, and their lips were close together. Some of them
were talking too fast. Arkin acted like a hearing person when he listened to them. What's shocking about
his character, of which the deaf world may not appreciate, is that he was a deaf-mute, along with his friend, who
preferred to make it in the hearing world. He doesn't seem to have other deaf friends to communicate with in ASL.
Meanwhile, Sondra Locke is terrific, earning herself an Oscar nomination in her debuting screen role. I always thought
she was a talented actress, but the critics trashed her when she appeared in Clint Eastwood's movies which is
completely unfair. As for Sondra Locke's character in The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, I'm surprised she didn't
ask Singer to teach her ASL; she's a perfect candidate given her high energy level. Also making a debut performance
as the drunkard is Stacy Keach. Cicely Tyson, Percy Rodrigues, Jackie Marlowe, and Chuck McCann (who was dressed
in clothes worn by Sydney Greenstreet) round out the rest. They are all outstanding.
All in all, The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter is a sad movie that's filled with great performances, especially
from Alan Arkin.