Catch-22

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Joseph Heller's novel was one of the seminal literary events of the 1960s, but Mike Nichols's film ultimately proved too literal in its attempt to bring Heller's fragmented fiction to the screen. Still, Nichols, who made this on the heels of The Graduate, seemed the ideal candidate to tackle this Buck Henry adaptation. The story deals with bomber pilot Yossarian (Alan Arkin), who has flown enough missions to get out of World War II but can't because the number of missions needed for discharge keeps getting raised. The satire and absurdity of Heller's book get lost in Nichols's effort to give screen time to the members of his all-star cast, which includes Orson Welles, Jon Voight, Bob Newhart, Anthony Perkins, Richard Benjamin, and Martin Sheen, among others. --Marshall Fine

Customer Reviews:

cast of people we recognize.......2007-09-14

Film is similar to the following review--takes a bunch of material, edits until bored and releases the product.

Film repeats two flash backs--primary character Rossarian gets stabbed with a knife and an airman named Snowden having been injured in flight receives comfort from Rossarian.

weather conditions have improved. you will have no trouble seeing the target. of course that means they will have no trouble seeing you. anyone who wants out of combat duty is not crazy. at 5 cents a piece, and clear profit of 2 cents an egg. oranges, olive oil, blankets. what will be good for M&M enterprises will be good for the country. cotton is a particularly liquid commodity. we'll trade for it. silk. a hell of a good deal in Alexandria.

the syndicate is organized by an acting mess officer named Milo who trades his unit's supplies for other commodities. in one scene, the home airfield is being destroyed by the unit's own bombers. Milo had made a deal with Germans who would buy Milo's oversupply of indian cotton in exchange for making it appear that the Germans successfully attacked the US base. the syndicate theme extends to silk parachutes, airplane's morphine stolen and sold by the syndicate. as one prostitute says "everyone works for Milo."

Capt major is promoted to squadron commander--rank of major. Maj Major will only see people in his office when he is not there. if he is in his office, he wants the sgt to ask people to wait until he is not there. he does not want the sgt to enter his office unless he is not in and then the sgt should do whatever needs to be done. comedy writing in 1970 did not have to be funny, the writers merely had to pretend it was funny.

Catch-22 principle is stated by an old Italian woman in the ruined brothel: "they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing."

"Help him, help him" "Help who?".......2007-06-23

The story is mostly flashback on flashback. The basic story is of Capt. John Yossarian (Alan Arkin), World War II bombardier, who wants to get out of the war. However it gets real complicated with many characters that are players by a bevy of character actors. There is plenty of subtle comedy mixed with some scenes that can make you sick.

A lot of what looks like disjointed and irrelevant scenes with becomes one cohesive story by the end. Even the frontal nudity scene fits. If you like this sort of film you should watch "Jacob's Latter."

With all the effort and great filming this film still has no exceptional or socially meaningful message. Luckily the film is complete and we can understand what is being cut out of TV versions.

My favorite part was the part where when Yossarian first sees Luciana (Olimpia Carlisi) in white walking by and they play "Also sprach Zarathustra" Written by Richard Strauss

You either Love it or Hate it..........2007-05-28

Sitting down to watch Catch-22 after finishing the novel, I was curious how the movie was going to work. The anti-war comedy novel is filled with many more characters, and storylines, than what would feasibly fit into a feature length movie. Understanding this, I was thoroughly impressed with the liberties that were taken with the story to make it into a movie. Furthermore, I had such a comical picture of Yossarian in my head after finishing the book, I thought that the theatrical representation of the main character would be severely lacking and ruin the movie. I couldn't have been more wrong. Watching Alan Arkin bring Yossarian to life was a treat and a pleasure to watch.

As far as the cinematography of the film, there are some instances where the sound quality is not the best when character dialog is set over the roar of airplane engines. But there sure are some great film moments. That opening sequence is amazing and the long single take opening on Yossarian is just something that you typically don't see in today's movies.

Some love it and some hate it. I subscribe to the former group, and I believe this is one of the best book to movie adaptations that I've ever seen. A must have for your DVD collection.

Not as good as the book.......2007-02-19

But then again, how could it be? The title of the book itself has become synonomous with the "no win" situation you often get involved in when dealing with the government or the military. The background Heller wrote into the book makes the story that much more interesting and sharpens the idea behind it.

The movie makes an effort to follow the book, but it is hard to do and I think it is not so much the fault of the director or the cast as it is the fact that some books just don't translate well into film. This is one of them.

An Indictment for the Ages.......2007-02-10

The dystopia that is Catch-22 comes to life in this film. The cinematography is great and the story arch is very nicely envisioned through flashback narratives that prove affective in use. My reason for writing this review, however, is to quell the notion that the film isn't true to the text.

A first reader of Catch-22 will likely find humor in the fantastical aspects of the novel. Actually, everyone who has read the book will attest to the fact that the humor is in the tone and presentation of it; yet, to be able to do so, one has to always recognize that the humor is a product of a far-fetched reality. Clearly, this humor, which is often found at the sentence level, is lost when put to screen.

Once the surface of the novel is scratched, a new text emerges, and this is what comes to life in this film adaptation. The core of the novel is layed bare in this film, and to not recongize this requires a deeper read.

I don't want to take away from the humor of the novel. In viewing this film, a lover of Catch-22 will further recognize how dynamic a book Joseph Heller actually gave us. To laugh at the situations, characters, and overall logic while recognizing the social commentary that pervades each character-based chapter is the real testament to the novel's worth.

The novel is laced with humor, but to move beyond our own personal first encounters with Catch-22 will be the factor proves the story one for the ages. It isn't the humor that gets us every time; it's the glaring reality of faulty logic that continues to replicate itself from war to war. Catch-22 plays to that eternal theme and should be viewed with this in mind.

In our unflinching acceptance of Heller's wit, Mike Nichols gets us to flinch. I, for one, think he should be accredited for doing so.

Charlie Rose with Marvin Kalb; Joseph Heller; Star Jones; Raul Julia (October 24, 1994)

Average customer rating:

Charlie Rose with Marvin Kalb; Joseph Heller; Star Jones; Raul Julia (October 24, 1994)

Manufacturer: Charlie Rose
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Description

First, author Marvin Kalb discusses President Nixon's attempts to rebuild his public image following the Watergate scandal, the subject of his new book, The Nixon Memo. Then, an interview with novelist Joseph Heller about his new book Closing Time, a sequel to the classic Catch 22. Later, former prosecutor and television personality Star Jones talks about her career and her work on The View. Finally, a remembrance of actor Raul Julia, star of Kiss of the Spider Woman and The Addams Family.

Average customer rating:

Catch 22
Starring: Arkin , Balsam , and Benjamin
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000CCKXFI
Release Date: 2001-05-22

DVD:

DVD

DVD