Thanks for the memories!

One of my all time favorites.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Blistering performances.

Authentic piece of committed cinema.Irwin Winkler has some interesting films as director, but for me this is the best.One of the values of art is to make us aware of our history. It's good that making films in which a complaint is made about an unjust situation. "People should finally know the truth of what happened then, as this will understand better what happens now" Irwin Winkler said.The production is good, and i would like to highlight Michael Ballhaus photography and James Newton Howard score.8/10

I first watched this movie in an 11th grade English class. While it wasn't a truly exciting or action-packed film from what I remember, it was an educational one. It shows director David Merrill (Robert De Nero) returning to America in the McCarthy era, where a Communist witch-hunt is sweeping through Hollywood. He then finds himself blacklisted for not cooperating with the authorities.This film carefully delves upon the aftermath of how Communism affected Hollywood and what the cause and effects it inflicted upon the country's citizens. Throughout the movie, you might be left wondering if Communism back in the day was a red herring or a real threat to be reckoned with.The acting was OK, but some of the actors, particular De Nero, went overboard at times. Again, from what I remember, it wasn't an exciting movie and I've found it to be quite boring at times. However, you would learn a few things, history wise.Grade C

Entertaining film about the Hollywood blacklisting scandal during the 1950's. Follows the story of a film director (De Niro) who returns from Europe to find Hollywood a little different than when he left. Before he can make his next big film he must clear his name in front of a committee to prove he is not a Communist. Sounds easy enough? Not really. He must agree to name 10 people, most are his friends, who will be charged with being Communists. This list includes his closest friend who is a writer, played by George Wendt. When De Niro's character refuses, his ability to get work vanishes. I expected more from the acting. De Niro was OK but I was disappointed with Bening, who plays De Niro's ex-wife and the rest of the cast. They all seem very bland, like they are going through the motions. The story drags a little bit when you keep thinking De Niro will never get another job until he decides to agree upon some of these names for the committee. One thing this film does do is expose the foolishness that was going on in Hollywood. Innocent men and woman were put out of work under falsehoods over and over.

The merit of this film is that it portrays the mechanism, the mentality and the impact on human character of what might very well be any communist regime there ever was in a stunningly perfect way (as a person grown up in a socialist country, believe me - I know!) - only here represented by people who are supposed to prevent communism from spreading! A great comment on human nature - whether intended or not is less important. If I didn't know better, I'd believe this was a Hollywood remake of some film about Stalin's 30:s purges or Polish repressions against the right wing combatants in the 50:s. Solid performance from De Niro, supported by a talented cast. Martin Scorsese appears in a cameo that must be one of the most extensive in his acting career.