Seconds

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Poe M Apr 10, 2019 John Frankenheimer's "human sci-fi" is a thriller shot in a near noir style that takes us into a world of wanted change. Arthur Hamilton is not the happiest man. At least he does not think so. He is a quiet banker and get's an oppertunity to fake his own death and start a new life - with a few cosmetic grips. He returns as Antiochus Wilson. A playboy and a professional painter. He needs some time to get into his new role. It's hard, but when he meets the lovely Nora he finds himself in a more playful and wild version. The thing is that when it all feels so fake he may not feel as satisfied with his disappearance as he thought. Some very cool scenery and wobbly effects, especially in the beginning of the film. Some freaky scenes, but also some flatter ones. It has aged well at some points, but at other it feels a bit too slow for a film of this kind. Pretty smart and snappy, a bit depressing and claustrophobic. Throw in some nightmareish vibes and you have this pretty cool 60's flick. 6.5 out of 10 grape stomping fests. See more

Ron S Mar 10, 2019 Seconds is a very effective and artistic sci-fi drama film which was masterfully shot by hugely talented James Wong Howe, well acted, directed and also quite melancholic in tone and suspenseful in some scenes. The first act is a superb 'Twilight Zone'-inspired story and the ending is very memorable and immensely disturbing, but the mid section is so slow, prolonged and often even unnecessary leading to an unfortunately uneven genre film which could have ultimately been so much greater. See more

Leia R Oct 13, 2018 Quiet a disturbing movie, with Kafkaesque elements, which raises difficult questions which people in general try to avoid all their lives or till very late in their lives. When a man resolves to 'reborn' he should think twice before the action, for we all think that we have a definite dream in our minds of our perfect life. This film appeals to our deepest and primitive desires of being stripped of all responsibilities, in this respect I really liked the scene of the feast in the name of Bacchus. Cinematography, technical tricks and performance by Rock Hudson are top-notch. See more

Kylo P Apr 27, 2018 This is a strange and paranoid sci-fi drama that tackles major philosophical questions (such as, "what is identity?") in the context of loneliness, anomie, generational gaps, and other major concerns of the sixties (and since). John Frankenheimer had the wisdom to cast two different actors as the same man, Arthur Hamilton (John Randolph at first), who contracts with a company that promises to rebuild him as a new different person (a reborn named Antiochus Wilson, played by Rock Hudson), killing off his old self in the process (a hotel fire, in this case). The first half of the film shows us Hamilton's angst in trying to decide whether his life is worth keeping or ditching and the temptations of starting again (at middle age, with no financial concerns) in order to attempt to fulfil heart's desires (as a painter rather than a banker), the desires that went unfulfilled in the old life. The second half of the film shows us Hamilton reborn, with Rock Hudson doing an excellent job of playing a secretly older man trapped in a somewhat younger stud's body, gamely or not so gamely trying to adapt to a more swinging crowd. In fact, "trapped" becomes the operant word here as Hudson begins to feel he made a mistake... Perhaps more interesting are the numerous parallels to Hudson's own "double life" since he was in the closet at the time - some of his lines take on extra meaning if you think about the fact that he/Hudson was hiding his sexual orientation just as he/Antiochus Wilson is hiding the fact that he is/used to be Hamilton. Cinematography in B&W by James Wong Howe is sometimes experimental and visceral (in keeping with Frankenheimer's live TV beginnings). Spooky titles by Saul Bass. Psychodrama music by Jerry Goldsmith. A downer, of course, but one that can really get you thinking. See more

Hagrid P Sep 18, 2017 I liked how the film depicted the company as untrustworthy from the beginning. It also did a good job describing how Arthur met his downfall. The thought-provoking scenes when the movie discussed this were powerful. It also had a powerful ending. Also, a lot of the middle felt like a bizarre escapist fantasy. I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I first watched it, but I was completely blown away by it. See more

Harry G Aug 13, 2017 Fifty year old Arthur Hamilton is bored of his dull, suburban lifestyle, and feels stuck. He can't connect with his wife, doesn't see his adult daughter, and is stuck in a monotonous job. When Arthur gets a call from a supposedly long dead friend, he can't believe what he hears. His friend explains there's a company specializing in second chances, giving someone an entirely new body, face, and voice of his choosing, letting them start life anew, all he has to do is sign some paperwork, and they'll take care of the rest. Arthur is skeptical at first, but soon caves in after an awkward night with his wife, and plunges himself into a living nightmare, that proves you can't escape your past, or who you are, no matter how hard you try. Seconds is a disturbing, sad, yet beautifully shot look at the impossibility of second chances, and the danger of trusting big corporations to handle your life. Though a flop on release, it has since been praised for it's ahead of its time themes, a great performance by Rock Hudson, and fantastic cinematography. Rock Hudson truly is great in this, playing a conflicted man perfectly, and really making you feel the horror, and pain of his situation. It's speculated that he played this part so well, because he was grappling with his own issues of identity, and hiding hiding himself from the world. Rock Hudson was a complete heartthrob in his time, but it was all a facade, he was actually a closeted homosexual during the 1950's, and 60's. This story about being someone else was clearly a very personal film for him. However the biggest star of this film is the cinematography. Cinematographer James Wong Howe does a fantastic job using mounted cameras, and handheld, shaky shots to communicate an amazingly haunting atmosphere, in director John Frankenheimers wonderful film. The script is based off a popular novel by the same name, and communicates its themes of existentialism, dystopian futures very well. Seconds was made during a time where plastic surgery was beginning to take off, and people wanted more than ever to be someone else, or to be like celebrities. Frankenheimer wanted to make a film that showed the ugly truth. No amount of surgery, or changes in physical appearance will change who you are inside, the person will still carry the same emotional baggage, and inadequacies they desperately want to get away from. It's a lesson that I think is even more relevant now, and should be seen by young people especially. We live in an age that desperately promotes reinvention, and wanted to the center of attention. This film shatters that idea gloriously, and is easily a haunting, important classic, that will only get more relevant as time passes. See more

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