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7.1/10
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Following Alabama governor George Wallace through segregation, presidential elections, an assassination attempt and personal trauma.Following Alabama governor George Wallace through segregation, presidential elections, an assassination attempt and personal trauma.Following Alabama governor George Wallace through segregation, presidential elections, an assassination attempt and personal trauma.
- Won 3 Primetime Emmys
- 17 wins & 29 nominations total
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More than simply showing a part of history, "George Wallace" shows how a person - in this case a white supremacist - can change. In the title role, Gary Sinise does as intense a job as ever. Seeing what Wallace does early in his career, you're horrified, but you don't really grow to hate the guy (granted, you don't admire him either). Another interesting performance in the movie is a very young Angelina Jolie as Wallace's second wife Cornelia.
In conclusion, I don't know how good most of John Frankenheimer's movies have been, but this one is definitely worth seeing. Also starring Mare Winningham, Clarence Williams III and Joe Don Baker.
In conclusion, I don't know how good most of John Frankenheimer's movies have been, but this one is definitely worth seeing. Also starring Mare Winningham, Clarence Williams III and Joe Don Baker.
They don't always give Oscars to the right person. But in this case, they definitely got it right. Gary Sinese's portrayal of the extremely controversial man. He showed us the human side of this man who went through one of the most amazing transitions ever seen in public. We don't often get to see someone change to this degree. I followed this man's life as he lived it in the news. But unless you looked deeper you would have never gotten to see his transformation. He was much more than a one-dimensional racist. This is an excellent film that draws you in with tight writing. And amazing performances by everyone. But Sinese stood out. It's a shame this film didn't greater theatrical success. There're several lessons in this film. But one of the big ones was near the end when he went into the Dexter Ave. church. The people in that church. LISTENED. They didn't shout him down or interrupt in any way. We've gotten away from that in the 21st century. Even if we just "think" we don't agree with a speaker. We don't show basic decency like the people in that church did. I found it enlightening. See what you think. Give it a chance.
The late John Frankenheimer was one of our truly great directors. He cut his teeth in the early days of television, directing over 100 tv shows and then he went on the direct Birdman Of Alcatraz, Seven Days In May, The Train and his masterpiece The Manchurian Candidate. He had a long dry spell after that where Hollywood more or less forgot about him, but in the early 90s he was able to make an amazing comeback with a series of tv films like Against The Wall, The Burning Season, Andersonville and this film. This is a man who directed actors like Kirk Douglas, Burt Lancaster, Robert Ryan and Edmond O'Brien, and yet he said Gary Sinise was one of the finest actors he ever worked with. Sinise is probably best remembered for his role as Lieutenant Dan in the Forrest Gump movie (one of the most depressing films that I ever saw I HATED IT!!!). He did a wonderful job as Harry Truman and he equally rises to the occasion as George Wallace. George Wallace was one of the truly controversial figures of our time. In 1958, he ran for Alabma's governor as someone who favored cival rights and lost. According to friends he vowed that he would never be "out niggered" again (excuse my language I'm just quoting what he said) and he won. He voweed in his inagural address "segregation now, segregation tomorrow and segregation forever!" If ever a man symbolized the horrors of racism in the 1960's it was certainly George Wallace. Sinise brilliantly portrays Wallace's ruthless ambition and drive for power, but then there is the 1972 assassination attempt that left him paralyzed. There is a sad scene in the film where a doctor tells him that he will be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life, that he will be impotent and not even able to control bladder or bowel and that he will never have another day without pain. It's maybe because of this that Wallace sought not power but forgiveness in the last years of his life. He apologized to those he had hurt like the Freedom Riders. Sinise is wonderful in his role as is Angelina Jolie as his wife Cornelia. Forget her tatooes and her eccentricities, she is a fine actress who always delivers. Joe Don Baker also gives as Jim Folsom, Wallace's protege. Actually, it was only thru luck that Wallace became governor in 1962. Jim Folsom was a very popular Alabama politican who had been elected Governor twice before (1947-51,1955,59). In 1962, he ran against Wallace and had a good chance at a third term until he appeared drunk on a tv show on the eve of the election. Folsom forgot the names of his children and gave an extended imitation of a cuckoo clock. The performance cost him the election and ended his career as an important politician in Alabama.
In many ways Wallace was a reprehensible man so a three hour film of his rather infamous life should be a struggle to get through, that its not is almost wholly because it has such a high quality cast.
Clarence Williams III offers quiet support in the difficult role of Wallace's long time servant and the many familiar faces that are in support all are fine in their various roles. The real spotlight is on the three main characters and its here that the film really delivers.
Mare Winningham is both strong and soft as Lurleen Wallace standing by her man who is devoted to her. Their relationship does much to humanize Wallace. Angelina Jolie, during the very brief period of her career spent in TV, is equally strong as Cornelia Wallace showing that she was more than the trophy wife she was sometimes painted. Even with all this excellent work the film would be nothing without a knockout lead actor and Gary Sinise is that. He is totally committed to the character whether showing his bigotry or his humanity, a splendid piece of work. Frankenheimer's direction is sure handed keeping the interest level high as he moves through a most complicated man's life.
Clarence Williams III offers quiet support in the difficult role of Wallace's long time servant and the many familiar faces that are in support all are fine in their various roles. The real spotlight is on the three main characters and its here that the film really delivers.
Mare Winningham is both strong and soft as Lurleen Wallace standing by her man who is devoted to her. Their relationship does much to humanize Wallace. Angelina Jolie, during the very brief period of her career spent in TV, is equally strong as Cornelia Wallace showing that she was more than the trophy wife she was sometimes painted. Even with all this excellent work the film would be nothing without a knockout lead actor and Gary Sinise is that. He is totally committed to the character whether showing his bigotry or his humanity, a splendid piece of work. Frankenheimer's direction is sure handed keeping the interest level high as he moves through a most complicated man's life.
As an Australian I was unfamiliar with many of the fine historical details depicted in the movie, so it was in part a history lesson for me. It also means I have little at stake politically, so my review ought to be fairly unbiased in that respect.
George Wallace isn't an extraordinary film (especially considering it's from John (Manchurian Candidate) Frankenheimer), but it's thoroughly enjoyable, even if a little overlong for a single sitting. There are none of the elaborate directorial flourishes which you would get if this was an Oliver Stone job. Frankly, I was relieved.
I said the movie, as a whole, wasn't extraordinary. But Gary Sinise is quite simply superb. Irrespective of anything else, Wallace is worth watching just for his remarkable performance.
6.5/10 overall 10/10 for Sinise
George Wallace isn't an extraordinary film (especially considering it's from John (Manchurian Candidate) Frankenheimer), but it's thoroughly enjoyable, even if a little overlong for a single sitting. There are none of the elaborate directorial flourishes which you would get if this was an Oliver Stone job. Frankly, I was relieved.
I said the movie, as a whole, wasn't extraordinary. But Gary Sinise is quite simply superb. Irrespective of anything else, Wallace is worth watching just for his remarkable performance.
6.5/10 overall 10/10 for Sinise
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe night that Gary Sinise won the Emmy award for his portrayal of George Wallace, the real George Wallace died of a heart attack.
- GoofsThe future Cornelia Wallace is depicted as a small girl on her uncle's shoulders at Jim Folson's inauguration on January 17, 1955. In fact, Cornelia would have been eleven days short of her sixteenth birthday at the time.
- Quotes
George C. Wallace: We gonna set the stage on this one. If Bobby Kennedy wants to talk to me, he's gonna have to come down here.
- Alternate versionsThe DVD has been cropped to 1.78:1 for modern widescreen televisions. The film was originally shot for television in 1997 in 1.33:1. This is very clear in the "making of" documentary, also on the DVD. It shows numerous shots of monitors on set, all clearly with markings for 1.33:1 and no additional markings at all for any intended cropping. In addition, all clips in the "making of" film are in the original 1.33:1, and comparison to the same shots in the feature shows how they have been cropped at both the top and bottom.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The 55th Annual Golden Globe Awards (1998)
- SoundtracksWe Shall Overcome
Traditional, musical and lyrical adaptation by Zilphia Horton, Frank Hamilton, Guy Carawan and Pete Seeger
Performed by Louis Armstrong
- How many seasons does George Wallace have?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- Джордж Воллас
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime2 hours 58 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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