Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956) YTS

Reviewed by John Chard 9 / 10

Ma, I tried to turn the leaf but

Ma, I tried to turn the leaf but I can't make it. It's something inside me. I try but I can't make it. Directed by multi genre supremo Robert Wise, the screenplay is adapted by Ernest Lehman from the Rocky Graziano biography of the same name. Music is by Bronislau Kaper and cinematography by Joseph Ruttenberg. It stars Paul Newman, Pier Angeli, Everett Sloane, Eileen Heckart and Sal Mineo. This film really hits the spot to me as a portent of just what a great career Paul Newman was to have, not only that but it stands up as one of the better sports biographies I have seen. Fine story as we follow Rocky Graziano (Newman) from his wild youth into a man on the verge of destroying his life and then on to becoming the World Middleweight Champion (the final fight with Tony Zale is superbly choreographed). It's weird because during Graziano's wild antics one can't help but like the guy because Newman makes the character so charming. The time he spent with the real Graziano pays off in spades as he captures his mannerisms and style impressively. One has to wonder what sort of performance original choice James Dean would have done with the role?. A big shout up to Pier Angeli as the main Female lead as she turns in a wonderful performance in view of Newman's barn storming show. Ruttenberg won the Academy Award for his pin sharp Black-and-White cinematography, the art department won for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White, while a certain Steve McQueen can be seen as one of Rocky's gang members - Fidel a knife wielding thug. 9/10

Reviewed by jimmylee-1 8 / 10

Paul Newman Wins It

Up until now I've only seen Paul Newman in 1990's and later movies - but he's never been the actor that called me into a movie theater or made me change the channel. He always seemed to play the same type of part: easy going, calm, aware, well contained. Or maybe that's the way he made each part seem.After seeing this movie, now I know why he's considered such a great actor. I only watched boxing when it was part of the Olympics - just don't enjoy the sport itself that much - and only know about Rocky Graziano from the newspapers. But Paul Newman was riveting. He made this character of a complete underdog, who apparently had no hope, no charm, and nothing to live for, into someone I cared about enough to stick with the movie for two hours.I don't know how true-to-life the story was; Hollywood generally creates composite characters, cleans up reality and changes or outright ignores major events. Certainly the many fights Graziano had were a bit of a blur in the film and I'm sure several critical steps in his advancement towards middleweight championship were neglected. The reason for the violent relationship between Rocky and his father was unexplained. And his mother's mental state (the film alludes to her time in the hospital) is not fully developed.These gaps do not overshadow in any way Paul Newman's performance. I always thought it was longevity, charitable works, and a long-lasting marriage to another actor (not to mention darn good spaghetti sauce) that gave him the aura he has - now I understand.

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Somebody Up There Likes Me

1956

Action / Biography / Drama / Sport

Somebody Up There Likes Me

1956

Action / Biography / Drama / Sport

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Ma, I tried to turn the leaf but

Paul Newman Wins It

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