Reds (1981)

Premise: A socialist journalist, Jack Reed (Warren Beatty) becomes passionately involved with the Bolshevik revolution and fellow writer Louise Bryant (Diane Keaton), to point of covering the revolution from Russia.

To be honest with you, I only recently discovered that this movie exists. I have been missing out.

Never mind the sizzling chemistry between sometime paramours Keaton and Beatty, never mind the juicy proportions of young Edward Herrmann, Jack Nicholson, and an uncredited Gene Hackman, the real jewel here is writer/director Beatty.

He already had all the movie star good looks, charisma, and talent he needed to set him up for the easy come good life. So, why, why get himself involved in a hot political piece about a man few remember? And then turn it into a three hour plus epic?

Well, I guess he had something to say. To make a movie about a man so overtly communist and dare to neither condemn or elevate your subject? To look at him as both a man and a legend, to find the way both those things overlap and diverge, and to refuse to criticize his failings, which, in turn, beautifully plays as his humanity? That takes some cojones, my friends.

In addition, he packs every frame with actions and gives the movie virtually no score. There's nothing to direct you how to feel besides the exceptional work on the many wonderful character actors who fill the screen.

The movie's subject matter may overtly deal with the rise of communism, but it's plea is much more subtle: one of freedom. It makes it all the more disappointing that Beatty hasn't worked since 2001. I don't care if you are turning 70 next year, Warren. We need ya. A

Because I care, here's something funny. And here's something funny and movie related. Automagically, people. Automagically.