Save your money for something good and enjoyable

Better Late Then Never

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

Martin Ritt had already directed Paul Newman in "The Long, Hot Summer", "Paris Blues" and "Hud" when he made "The Outrage". A worthy effort but it doesn't quite compare to its source material (Akira Kurosawa's "Rashomon"). To us nowadays it's going to be jarring to see Newman playing a Mexican, especially since there were plenty of Latino actors who could've played the role.As for the movie overall, I thought that the most interesting scenes were of the three men (William Shatner, Edward G. Robinson, Howard DaSilva) going over the different versions of the story. It's worth seeing, but it's far from Ritt's best movie. I recommend the original version over this one, due to Kurosawa's clever way of filming some of the scenes.

Talky, Claustrophobic, Message Western, a Who-Done-It that is a Remake of a Kurosawa Film from 1950 (Rashomon). If you haven't seen it, don't Fret, only Film School Geeks and Residents of Japan have had the Pleasure. It is said that it is one of the All-Time Greats.That will Never be said of this one. An Intellectual's Movie that is Thoughtful, but Plodding, and by the time the Same Story is told for the Fourth Time, you may want some Relief. You get it here by turning a Rape/Murder Story into Something of a Slapstick Ending.Another Thing much Talked About, from those who Talk About such Things, is the Debatable Miscasting of Paul Newman as a Bandido. An Argument could be made either way. This is just too Stagy to Matter that much and there is Dialog and more Dialog and still more Dialog, all essentially telling the same Thing from a Different Perspective. That's the Whole Point of the Movie. In case you didn't Get It the first two Times the Scenario is Replayed.The Film has a Dark and Brooding look and the Actors all turn things Up a Notch, and some say Newman turns it up more than one. Overall it is Certainly Off-Beat, and Finely Made, but has a few Missteps that Add to the Delirium and at Times the Movie moves with too much Weight and Drags. Interesting, to say the Least, but Occasionally Boring and the Ending is a Letdown, although it does have a Baby(?).

There is something elusive about Martin Ritt's film "The Outrage" as what starts with supposedly minor characters slowly develops into a serious drama with the help of established actors.This is a rather curious anomaly as this film features famous actors like Edward G. Robinson and William Shatner who play some extremely minor roles.This meaningful film must escape from the clutches of unwarranted comparison to Japanese cinema maestro Akira Kurosawa's cult classic "Rashomon".No true film fan can deny that there might be similarities with that film yet "The Outrage" remains absolutely true to its American essence.With a fairly good command of colloquial Spanish,American cinema legend late Paul Newman excels in every frame.He proves that he is very much a woman's man despite getting a very negative role.It is said since time immemorial that various truths and lies are fair and valid as long as their authenticity is expressed in a just manner.This axiom holds full sway in this film."The Outrage" is a film wherein viewers have been urged to believe in the sanctity of male/female relationships especially when a man and a woman become a husband and wife.

If this film was made today it would most likely be released in "art" film theaters. A vanity film for the director and the stars, the movie sort of plods along, trying to make points about important things in life without coming to any final absolute conclusion.The story is concerned about a rape that took place and is told in flashbacks thru four different viewpoints of the ones that were present (the bandit, the wife, a passerby, and we even get the testimony from the dead husband!) Each one, of course, puts their own spin on the story. What is the truth?...Hmmmm.Paul Newman, in what might appear as a bit of apparent miscasting, does a superb job as the Mexican bandit---to the inattentive eye, he is unrecognizable as Paul Newman for the first few minutes of the film. William Shatner plays a preacher and once again appears to "overact" in a role that should have been played more subtly. Edward G. Robinson plays his role with gusto and is always interesting to watch. Laurence Harvey has a part that required the least amount of acting in any of his films---much of the time he is tied to a tree!