Wise Blood

Simply one of the best American films made in the last decade. John Huston (Prizzi's Honor) directed this hilarious (yet depressing) adaptation of Flannery O'Connor's visionary novel. Brad Dourif turns in an aggressively intense performance as Hazel Motes, a dissatisfied Southerner who is equally torn by his hatred of hypocrisy and his childhood memories of his hellfire-and-brim stone preaching grandfather (Huston). In an attempt to reconcile his strong need for religion with his resolute atheism, he forms the paradoxical Church of Jesus Christ Without Christ. O'Connor's standard gallery of grotesques are here given worthy expression by Harry Dean Stanton (a fake preacher), Ned Beatty (a guitar-playing con artist), and Amy Wright (the preacher's lascivious daughter). Highly recommended. (R. Pitman)[DVD Review—May 26, 2009—Criterion, 106 min., not rated, $39.95—Making its first appearance on DVD, 1979's Wise Blood features a stunning transfer and Dolby Digital Mono sound. DVD extras include the audio-only short story reading of “A Good Man is Hard to Find” by novelist Flannery O'Connor (48 min.), an episode of “Creativity with Bill Moyers” from 1982 featuring director John Huston (26 min.), an interview with writer-producer Michael Fitzgerald (20 min.), an interview with writer Benedict Fitzgerald (14 min.), an interview with star Brad Dourif (14 min.), a booklet featuring an essay by author Francine Prose, and a theatrical trailer. Bottom line: an excellent extras package for one of director Huston's best films.]