If you haven't seen a Paul Newman film, Cool Hand Luke is a good one to start off with. Newman plays Luke, a man arrested for a senseless crime who is sent to a brutal rural prison where he is constantly getting in trouble and is constantly being beaten by guards.
Newman's Luke is a likable character who becomes almost mythological in stature in the eyes of his fellow prisoners, and is viewed in a similar way by the audience. He is a man who is incapable of conforming and whose sole purpose is to question authority. He is funny, stubborn, sad, happy, and charming. He is just Luke.
The mood of the film is ever changing, at times in the film that are hilarious and there are times in the film that are quite brutal and heartbreaking. This roller-coaster ride of feelings gives Cool Hand Luke a unique feeling, a feeling which was masterfully created by director Stuart Rosenberg who was able to maintain a fine line between comedy and drama.
Cool Hand Luke is a film that is rarely seen today, featuring a character that is totally unique, and is a shining performance by one of the great actors of all time.
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