Okay, hear me out: 'The Man with One Red Shoe' - Criminally Underrated?
Okay, so I just rewatched 'The Man with One Red Shoe' (1985), and I have some thoughts. Look, I know it's not Citizen Kane, but I honestly think it's way more clever than people give it credit for. The whole premise is just brilliant satire – a random dude (Tom Hanks, bless him) gets mistaken for a CIA operative simply because he wore one red shoe. The absurdity of it all, mirroring the actual paranoia of the Cold War era, is just chef's kiss. Plus, the costume design alone deserves an award. That red shoe becomes this powerful symbol of mistaken identity and government overreach! Visually, it's nothing groundbreaking, but I do appreciate how they use the setting to add to the humor. All the sterile office spaces and crowded urban scenes juxtapose perfectly with Hanks' character's utter bewilderment. And the scene where Dabney Coleman is trying to subtly order the assassination? Comedic gold! Also, the soundtrack is surprisingly good and fits the tone perfectly. Okay, okay, it's definitely cheesy in parts, and the plot definitely gets a little convoluted towards the end... but that's part of its charm, right? It's a fun, silly, and ultimately, pretty insightful commentary on bureaucracy and the dangers of assumptions. I'm not saying it's a cinematic triumph, but I AM saying it deserves more love. Anyone else feel this way, or am I totally alone on this one? Bonus points for the original French film, 'Le Grand Blond avec une chaussure noire' -- that version's great too for totally different reasons, but the American remake definitely has its own unique flavor that I appreciate. What are your thoughts on remakes vs orginals!?
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