Review of The Boys from Brazil

I saw this movie when it first came out and I really enjoyed it. Compared to today's more authentic period pieces, it might not stand up that well… yes, the accents are pretty bad, for example… but all things considered I thought it was well done and I've seen it several times, the most recent being just last night. I loved the foreshadowing in the scene where one of the cloned boys lets Olivier's character into his house and is reflected an infinite number of times by the hallway mirrors… it appears to be nothing more than an odd directorial choice the first time through, but for those of us who know what's coming, it's a very clever device.

The dam scene was very intense and from the Trivia notes I gather it was a real dam, not a special effect. Very striking sequence in a very interesting location.

I didn't follow the bit about the dog's birthday… maybe that led somewhere in the book, but if it was explained in the film I must have missed it. There were a few other awkward moments here and there (I did chuckle at the cloning expert who could reproduce DNA at the drop of a hat yet demonstrated his high-tech theories and technique using a chalkboard and a film projector), but all in all I'd recommend this movie. Intriguing idea that translated very well to film, with a classic cast the likes of which we'll probably never see again.