The Hudsucker Proxy

Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: March 11, 1994

7.2	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 78 Ratings

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PearsonM.Nov 17, 2007

Either you get the magic of this movie, or you don't. If you don't, I could see how it might be hard to watch, however, if you do, you'll be rewarded with wonderfully imagined story -part homage, part fantasy, part success Either you get the magic of this movie, or you don't. If you don't, I could see how it might be hard to watch, however, if you do, you'll be rewarded with wonderfully imagined story -part homage, part fantasy, part success story, and part romance.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful

OneWhoKnowsAug 25, 2010

OK All Napoleon Dynamite fans depart... this is NOT a film for you. This film has the most unique, artistic and wonderful cinematography of any movie I have seen. For those of you who don't know the "HULA HOOP" is an actual toy that childrenOK All Napoleon Dynamite fans depart... this is NOT a film for you. This film has the most unique, artistic and wonderful cinematography of any movie I have seen. For those of you who don't know the "HULA HOOP" is an actual toy that children played with beginning in the late 50's. This film is a delightful romp pretending to document the invention of the hoop. ENJOY! the brothers made a fine film AGAIN!… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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Efreet69Mar 16, 2011

There are a few specific reasons why God graced the earth with the Coen Brothers and Sam Raimi. This is one of them. See this movie and your life will be better for it. (Side note: There is clearly an error somewhere in Metacritic'sThere are a few specific reasons why God graced the earth with the Coen Brothers and Sam Raimi. This is one of them. See this movie and your life will be better for it. (Side note: There is clearly an error somewhere in Metacritic's professional critic calculation algorithm as it only has this at a 53 for some reason.) >>>> My full cinema profile here: http://bit.ly/MyMovies… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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MattA.Jul 20, 2007

The critics totally blew it on this one. The best performance of Tim Robbin's mediocre career, and some of the best work both Jennifer Jason Leigh and Paul Newman have done as well. A brilliant homage to classic 30's, 40's and The critics totally blew it on this one. The best performance of Tim Robbin's mediocre career, and some of the best work both Jennifer Jason Leigh and Paul Newman have done as well. A brilliant homage to classic 30's, 40's and 50's movies starring Cary Grant, James Stewart and the like. Easily one of the Coen's brothers best three movies (along with Fargo and Raising Arizona).… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful

gkolpanSep 18, 2010

Simply one of the greatest movies ever made, with an outrageous and uproarious performance by Jennifer Jason Leigh. A homage to the great screwball comedies of the past, but strained through '90's irony. Great dialogue, incredible design andSimply one of the greatest movies ever made, with an outrageous and uproarious performance by Jennifer Jason Leigh. A homage to the great screwball comedies of the past, but strained through '90's irony. Great dialogue, incredible design and a wonderful score. If you're under 40, you probably won't get it, but if you just use your imagination the way the Coens used theirs, you'll love "Proxy."

And remember...The Future is Now.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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KenD.Mar 2, 2008

The critics are right. It's a cold fish of a film, however well art directed it may be. It's as though the Coen's became so absorbed by the filmmaking process they forgot what they were doing it for. Along with The The critics are right. It's a cold fish of a film, however well art directed it may be. It's as though the Coen's became so absorbed by the filmmaking process they forgot what they were doing it for. Along with The Ladykillers, it's their worst.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful

Compi24Sep 22, 2020

"The Hudsucker Proxy" may be several orders of magnitude below the Coen Brothers' best efforts, but it's nowhere near deserving of the thrashing the fates gave it back in 1994. This, at the very least, is a brilliantly executed work,"The Hudsucker Proxy" may be several orders of magnitude below the Coen Brothers' best efforts, but it's nowhere near deserving of the thrashing the fates gave it back in 1994. This, at the very least, is a brilliantly executed work, featuring amazing production design, terrific cinematography and a winsome commitment towards that fast-talking, razor sharp dialogue of old Hollywood. It's just that this really isn't anything all that new. Any fan of Capra or Sturges will know exactly where this movie's going, exactly what secrets it's hiding and exactly how everything will wrap up. And, aside from the appearance of some admittedly ballsy stylistic flourishes in the third act, you'll quickly realize how right you are. Still, as tried and true as the thematics and narrativity remain, it's undeniably gorgeous to look at.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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BerCJun 13, 2016

The artistic medium of film is very subjective. Every audience member has a different set of criteria they use to measure their viewing experience. Not everyone shares the same set of criteria. If we did, what a bland and uninspired worldThe artistic medium of film is very subjective. Every audience member has a different set of criteria they use to measure their viewing experience. Not everyone shares the same set of criteria. If we did, what a bland and uninspired world this would be.

What I Personally Liked About "The Hudsucker Proxy":
I would be remiss if I were not to point out right off the bat that the dialogue in this film is superlative. The Coen Brothers have long been known for their sharp tongues and witty turning of phrases and they hit a home run with this production. The precision and the pacing they so easily pull out of the throats of their thespians is astonishing and adds vibrant depth to the already gilded screenplay. Another highlight is the attention paid to the tiniest of comedic details. For example, Waring Hudsucker cleaning one lens of his glasses on his long voyage down to the sidewalk or Norville Barnes turning a drawing of a circle around because he felt it was upside down. This film is so fully packed it feels like it's bursting at the seams with hilarity. This film also made a Jennifer Jason Leigh fan out of me. I hadn't been all that familiar with her work the first time I saw "Hudsucker"; now I cannot seem to get enough. In this motion picture, it doesn't feel like she becomes the character of Amy Archer, it feels like she allows the character to become HER. It's like she lifted the words directly off the page, opened herself up and filled her body with each and every richly nuanced component. Jim True also gives a magnificent performance as the elevator operator Buzz; so much so, in fact, that he outshines leading man Tim Robbins in many of the scenes they share.

What I Personally Disliked About "The Hudsucker Proxy":
A small nitpick I had when the movie was first released is the fact that the secret behind Norville's idea of the circle being a hula hoop was revealed in the promotional material. A lot of people have voiced that opinion over the years and for very good reason. Still, the secret would have gotten out eventually. I just would have preferred to go into the film blind and allow the surprise to have more impact. Another small quibble, which has nothing to do with what is actually shown on screen, is the fact that this is perhaps the most underrated of all the films the Coens have unleashed upon the cinematic community. It definitely deserves better than to be collecting dust in the backs of the minds of most cinephiles. A final criticism is that Bruce Campbell feels underutilized in the role of Smitty. Here we have a talent whose style matches the period of this film perfectly and who seems like he was tailor made to work for the Coen Brothers. Yet they almost downplay his role in the newsroom and don't let him liberate the full force of his jocular prowess.

My Overall Impression of "The Hudsucker Proxy":
The spirited momentum behind this movie never lets up and never feels like it is being spread too thin. The Coens show they have grown more comfortable with their writing and directing skills. The cast is splendid all the way from the top of the board room (Paul Newman) to the bottom of the beatnik juice and coffee bar (Steve Buscemi); even the sets are unerringly designed. Everything gels together like silky cream being poured over smooth caramel. When people used to say "They don't make 'em like they used to," they obviously didn't have the opportunity to see this one!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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beeanadouMay 20, 2018

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Best Coen brothers' movie ever, they hardly film a good ending and this one beats many mediocre new year's eve DVDs which are too cliché. Simple business story blends with a little fantasy and romance.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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DawdlingPoetNov 20, 2021

The movie has quite a comic book and moralistic feel to it, being set in a city in the late 1950s, whereby the characters are quite over the top in an exaggerated way, with the loud mouthed executives/bosses and a scheming woman who isn'tThe movie has quite a comic book and moralistic feel to it, being set in a city in the late 1950s, whereby the characters are quite over the top in an exaggerated way, with the loud mouthed executives/bosses and a scheming woman who isn't what she makes herself out to be.

Its a very American movie, with the start of the movie giving a glimpse of the end and with narration by Bill Cobbs (who also plays the character of Moses), with a thick southern accent. The musical score adds some effect at points too with an enthusiastic orchestra adding crescendos at points and giving it more of a 1950s 'hustle and bustle' feel to it.

It does seem to be a movie with some morals behind it and its interesting to see the way Norville changes as a person after being made president of the company. I guess you could say the movie is all about judging the characters your introduced to and about how that could lead to you changing too.

It does have a 'fantastical' feel to it, with it seeming almost like its set in Gotham city, as a dark, money centric city with its fair share of villainous type characters. The ending has an interesting twist, it is a little 'Its a Wonderful Life'-esque I believe but its not too mushy, I found it quite clever actually, the orchestral score again adding to the atmosphere then.

Tim Robbins does well playing the main character as a seemingly eager, enthusiastic and naive graduate looking to work his way up the career ladder in business and the other characters are equally well acted. All in all, I thought this was a well made movie that could perhaps be seen as a bit over the top perhaps but its obviously meant to be, to get its point across I think and I certainly enjoyed it, so yes I would recommend it.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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