The Great Santini (1979) Review in 2025
The Great Santini is a biographical sports drama film that tells the story of a hot-headed fighter pilot and his family, exploring themes of family, loyalty, and redemption.
Family-Friendly Rating
Is this movie suitable for family viewing?
This movie is not suitable for family viewing due to its mature themes, strong language, and intense fight scenes.
CineReview Recommendation
This movie is a must-watch for fans of drama, sports, and family films, and is best enjoyed in theaters for its intense and dramatic scenes.
Spoiler Alert!
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The film revolves around the life of Ben 'The Great Santini' Meecham, a hot-headed fighter pilot who struggles to balance his family life with his military career, leading to a series of dramatic and intense confrontations with his family, particularly his son, who is a talented football player.
Review Details
story9.00/10
The story is engaging and well-paced, exploring complex themes of family, loyalty, and redemption in a unique and compelling way.
acting9.50/10
The acting is superb, with Robert Duvall delivering a career-defining performance and the supporting cast delivering strong performances.
characters9.00/10
The characters are well-developed and complex, with Robert Duvall delivering a standout performance as the hot-headed fighter pilot.
direction8.50/10
The direction is solid, with Lewis John Carlino bringing out the best in his cast and creating a visually stunning film.
cinematography9.00/10
The cinematography is excellent, capturing the intensity and drama of the film's key scenes.
Pros and Cons
Pros
The Great Santini is a powerful and engaging film that explores complex themes of family, loyalty, and redemption in a unique and compelling way, with standout performances from Robert Duvall and the supporting cast.
Cons
The film's mature themes and strong language may not be suitable for all audiences, and some viewers may find the pacing to be a bit slow at times.
Notable Quotes
"I'm not a hero, I'm just a pilot."
"You're a big, dumb animal!"
"You're a Santini, you're a Meecham, you're a fighter!"
