Amazon.com: Sam Peckinpah's final film has a lot to recommend it, including a complicated story derived from a Robert Ludlum novel but laced with Peckinpah's hard questions about loyalty and the balance between civilization and basic instincts. Rutger Hauer stars as John Tanner, a television host with strong criticisms of America's cold-war conduct. Looking forward to a weekend of socializing with old friends (played by Craig T. Nelson, Dennis Hopper, and Chris Sarandon), Tanner is approached by a CIA agent (John Hurt) who tells him his friends may be Soviet agents. Tanner agrees to let the spy agency set up surveillance in his house; it turns out there is more to the agent's claims than meets the eye and Tanner's weekend eventually erupts into violence. Osterman is not Peckinpah at his best (though, typically, the director was under siege from production politics), but the maestro of montage certainly worked in some extraordinary action sequences. --Tom Keogh
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - "Just Because I Don't Care Doesn't Mean I Don't Understand"
While some critics attacked `The Osterman Weekend' as not making any sense and having an incoherent plot, I understood it just fine. I just didn't like it.
With an impressive cast and intriguing premise `The Osterman Weekend' seems like a sure hit. However I was unable to find a single redeeming element of the film.
The plot: Rutger Hauer stars as an expose' talk show journalist planning for annual college reunion with Berkeley alumni at his estate. Enter CIA agent John Hurt whom confronts Hauer with evidence that his three best friends, Craig T Nelson, Dennis Hopper, ... Read More
Rating: - An underrated masterpiece
The Osterman Weekend is usually dismissed as a failed effort of Peckinpah's, as his last, drug-addled attempt to reclaim his fame. Many critics wave it off as uneven or even denounce it as incomprehensible. I take issue with such critics, and will here argue that not only is The Osterman Weekend a great film, but that it is in fact one of Peckinpah's greatest achievements as a filmmaker. In my book it ranks among The Wild Bunch and Straw Dogs. Sam Peckinpah was dying by the time he made Osterman Weekend. He was drug-damaged, delusional, and yes, stark raving mad. What is sometimes overlooked ... Read More
Rating: - Sam Peckinpah's last film gets the royal two disc Anchor Bay treatment!!!
Okey,this is far from Sam Peckinpah's greatest film (The Wild Bunch,Straw Dogs and "Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid" are my personal faves!),but still "The Osterman Weekend" is a fine work that's much better than most of the films churned out these days!!! The folks at Anchor Bay gave this film the royal two DVD treatment that includes the Feauture w/audio commentary on DVD one and DVD two has the extra goodies that are definately worth watching!!! So all in all,I'm still giving it five stars!!! A+
Rating: - Peckinpaw
I have to admit that what I liked about this movie was the fight scene in the kitchen. I am really into martial arts and I think that one reason is seeing Sam Peckinpaw's work back in the 1970s and 1980s, while I was growing up. He was the master of the slow-motion action shot, and we now see it in the films of John Woo and other directors. This is I think a pretty mediocre film, directed by one of the great directors, and like I said, that one scene really stuck in my mind over the years. It is a watchable film overall.
Rating: - Our Friendship is (Probably) OVER!
This one works only about half way. So 2.5 stars really. But I round it up to a 3.
There are signs of Pechinpah's filmaking throughout, but the story gets in the way, and that counts for a lot.
As to why these guys are friends, why they meet continually, why some of them are dealing with the KGB, why Burt Lancaster's character sets John Hurt up, why John Hurt follows through with the plan when he knows the truth, etc., etc., remain unanswered. This is the part of the story that doesn't work.
The acting is alright. Rutger Hauer is fine. Steely and equipped with essential hair. Pre ... Read More
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