Ceticultsot Beautiful, moving film.

MoPoshy Absolutely brilliant

filippaberry84 I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Roman Sampson One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

zkonedog You know how, sometimes, when the whole family gets together, it always seems to end in a shouting match or someone walking out in a huff? Family dynamics are some of the trickiest situations to deal with, and "Death of a Salesman" taps into those themes better than perhaps any other film.For a basic plot summary, this movie tells the story of Willy Loman (Dustin Hoffman), an aging salesman who may be starting to get a bit senile. Not helping matters is that, after decades of service to his company, he is being pushed out and unable to pay the bills. When Willy's sons Biff (John Malkovich) and Happy (Stephen Lang) come home after failing at their life's pursuits, they only ignite Willy's frustrations even more. Thrown in accommodating wife Linda (Kate Reid) and let the fireworks begin.When watching this movie, the first thing you have to do is remember that it is adapted from a stage play, and it plays that way on the big screen. They don't try to "pump it up" for Hollywood, but instead still rely on slight set pieces like a stage play would. It isn't "bad effects", but a conscious choice by director Volker Schlondorff.What the film lacks in visual effects, though, it more than makes up for with acting and themes. Hoffman and Malkovich play off each other perfectly, and this movie throws so many family- dynamic themes at you that it will take you some time even after the movie is finished to truly absorb and understand all of them.This is the kind of movie that doesn't lend itself to a brief review because one could take an entire semester of a college class and still not dissect all the themes. Suffice it to say, though, that you WILL relate to at least one of the characters (or know someone who IS one of them) and most of the family themes. Some movies are all about "black and white" themes of good and bad, but "Death of a Salesman" revels in its shades of grey.Though this movie is not "dramatized" enough for me to warrant a five-star rating, it is about as solid a four star movie as I've ever seen. The themes will leave you thinking about the movie for days afterwards.

David Spear Many people think this play is a depressing tragedy with Willy being a loser. Most of the story is this. But at the climax...BIFF (at the peak of his fury): Pop, I'm nothing! I'm nothing, Pop. Can't you understand that? There's no spite in it any more. I'm just what I am, that's all. (Biffs fury has spent itself, and he breaks down, sobbing, holding on to Willy, who dumbly fumbles for Biff's face.)WILLY (after a long pause, astonished, elevated): Isn't that— isn't that remarkable? Biff — he likes me! LINDA: He loves you, Willy!HAPPY (deeply moved): Always did, Pop. WILLY: Oh, Biff! (Staring wildly.) He cried! Cried to me. (He is choking with his love, and now cries out his promise.) That boy — that boy is going to be magnificent!and at the requiem CHARLEY You don't understand: Willy was a salesman. And for a salesman, there is no rock bottom to the life. He don't put a bolt to a nut, he don't tell you the law or give you medicine. He's man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a Shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back — that's an earthquake. And then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you're finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory.So Willy has been "riding on a smile and a Shoeshine". But Willy and his "problem son" Biff finally make the peace they've been trying for all their lives: "He is choking with his love". I think Willy committed suicide rather than start fighting with everyone again. He's a winner for the first time, with his house paid off and his family all loving each other at last. What a better time to end his play.

Dan Duda It's rare when a writer creates characters as real, deep and engaging as Arthur Miller did here. It's sad, I feel, to see him throw a lot of that out the window because he wants a tragic ending more than anything else.I feel Miller does that in "Death of a Salesman." In Willie Loman, he creates a very believable character we care about. The portrayal here by Dustin Hoffman is excellent.I will not to spoil the end for anyone who hasn't seen it, but the conclusion is my chief objection. It does not feel believable for the character. It does feel imposed by the author, and it smacks of a young writer wanting to make a name by amping up the drama. History shows he succeeded; unfortunately, for me, somewhere along the line the point of truth is passed.But there is a lot to like here. This production makes the bright red walls of encroaching apartments feel like more claustrophobic weight crushing the Loman family. Kate Reid and Stephen Lang are totally in character as the wife and son. John Malkovich turns in a bravura performance during the scene where Biff catches his father a little too unexpectedly in a Boston hotel room; it's hard to imagine anyone playing the scene more powerfully. At other times, curiously, Malkovich's Biff feels less a part of the family than the other characters.That discovery scene between Biff and Willie is really enough tragedy for any one play; Miller didn't need more.

Petri Pelkonen Willy Loman is a salesman, who gets no salary anymore and works with mere commission.He's 63 years old and he's tired of traveling around the country.His wife Linda understands him and loves him.His sons, Biff and Happy are visiting home.Willy has a troubled relationship with Biff.His son once loved and admired his father very much.It all changed when he found out about his father's crime, of committing adultery. Loman is losing his mind.He can be living two times at the same time.He steps from today's world into the past, mostly those joyful times of his life.He speaks with his now deceased brother Ben, who went to Africa and became a wealthy man.I read the original play by Arthur Miller that was published in 1949 pretty recently and liked it very much.Volker Schlöndorff's Death of a Salesman (1985) is a movie version of that.It was seen on Broadway a year earlier.All of the actors are remarkable.There's not one weak performance.Dustin Hoffman, what a perfect choice to play Willy Loman.He's always great but this time he really tops himself.Kate Reid gives a strong performance as Linda Loman.John Malkovich and Stephen Lang are great as the sons, also as the younger versions of them.Louis Zorich is really brilliant as Ben Loman.Charles Durning is excellent as Willy's neighbor and only friend Charley.And so is David S. Chandler as his son Bernard.Jon Polito gives a good performance as Willy's boss Howard.Linda Kozlowski is wonderful as Miss Forsythe.And so is Kathryn Rossetter as Woman from Boston.The strength of the play is in the characters.You care about many of them. you hope something good would happen to Willy, despite his flaws.The title of the play gives away the ending but it's intriguing to find out what events led to that.Death of a Salesman is a great American play and this a great movie made of that play.