Why hadn't I seen this before? It is a completely brilliant film. One of the best. Seriously, that good.
What's not to like? John Ford directs. Tick. James Stewart is the seeming conscience of the film. Tick. John Wayne (and in Ford's hands, let us be clear, this guy could act) is the tragic true conscience of the film. Tick. Lee Marvin is completely and convincingly conscienceless (no victim of society he). Tick.
Read Richard Brody in The New Yorker on what makes a great film - Great Films . Brody thinks Liberty Valance one of the great political movies. Spot on.
8.5/10. So watch it. The whole thing is on YouTube but better to download it on Sky or buy the dvd. I could even let you have my thoughts on the applicability of this marvellous film to the American election but I've bored you enough already. How about this as a suggestion - instead of the next tiresome wrestling-in-mud style candidate debates, make all of them sit and watch this film and then give them each thirty seconds to apologise for having been gutless tossers. I don't just mean the Republicans either. Next mission - a search for the best film to show to the EU protagonists.
And lo, a miracle! Whilst typing this entry I have been listening to the sadly smug Now Show selectively eviscerating the Donald, only to be brought up short by Marcus Brigstocke of all people with a timely riff on the lazy certainties of the left. Marcus, I may have misjudged you. Or perhaps we're both growing! Bloody hell.
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