The Omega Man

It was a double feature on Sunday, as I got my movie collection in order and figured out that there are many hours in the day. Let me attack that point first: when you go to watch a movie, immediately the word "movie" brings to mind multiple hours of commitment. But friends, it does not have to be that way. Where did this come from? Is it because, if you planned on going to a movie, you would be going to the theatre: driving there, picking up friends (or waiting for them), standing in line, buying the ticket, waiting in line for food, finding a seat, then waiting for the movie to start, because you arrived a bit early. When the film squeals by you sit through another ten minutes plus of previews and (television) commercials. By god, when you are done with the hour and forty five minute movie, you've just invested three hours of your life.

But it's not the case at home: you're already on the couch, load up your movie, skip the BS and start viewing. The movie is not THAT long. In fact, you could see two for the time cost of one. So that's what I did.

First up was Away We Go, who stars The Office guy, Jim plus beard, and the adorable Maya Rudolph from SNL fame. Decent movie, that doesn't get too involved in itself. But it's the second movie I want to focus on: The Omega Man.

This one has been sitting in the collection for a while, and gained interest as I Am Legend released. Man was released in 1971 and that perhaps contributes to the hesitation of watching it. But it's watch well worth it: you're never entirely sure what the creatures are that are tormenting Neville, but you are damn happy they talk and have character, which is leagues beyond the CGI vampire/weirdo's polluting Will Smith's vehicle. Heston is interesting as Neville, as he sports some real gnarly smile when he shows teeth, and a knack for killing these damned creatures. His relationship with them is fantastic, as he shoots first and thinks later in the earlier part of the film, plot advances and character development show that these are/were people, and calls into question his relentless pursuit of murdering them all. But also, on the flip side, you have the leader who is bent on killing Heston simply because the guy won't leave. By the end of the film I really have to step back and admire how they conveyed this on screen: for any modern movie it would be enough that Neville is human, creatures are not and that means they must all die. Here, I got the feeling that, in this post-apocalyptic world, these two factions could in fact live together in some form of "peace."

I really wish modern movies would take the time and devote the subtlety of plot, social commentary and conflicted characters that these classics have. It can be done: you don't have to look far for a movie like The Omega Man.

One bit of interesting trivia from IMDB was that the author didn't care about this movie as an adaptation of his novel, as the movie was so far removed from his original vision. Time to read that book. And isn't it great that they could make a movie, so far removed, and still be relevant and good? When a movie is made now, and is so far removed, it's considered trash, or built for movie-audiences. That concept is insulting: we, the people, can handle an intellectual "action" movie.

Anyway. Check it out. I really loved it.