Customer Reviews

King of the Hill

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I watched this film for the first time as a freshman in high school, and found myself simply captivated by its utter beauty and humanity. Over the course of the picture I came to truly identify with the character of Aaron, and his story struck a chord within my soul that I never kew existed.

As the years have passed, I have come back to this movie time and time again, and I find that "King of the Hill" only grows better with each viewing. Undoubtedly this film has a tremendous amount to say about endurance, triumph, love, and adversity, and Soderbergh tackles such themes with great eloquence and ease. But what is most striking about this beautiful picture are the endless number of images that appear throughout the course of its story. I will never forget the tragic dance scene in which the character of Ella experiences a random seizure, the brilliant exchanges between Spalding Gray and Elizabeth McGovern, or the touching final interaction between Aaron and an elevator operator. But for me, the most incredible sequence comes at the story's very beginning when Aaron stands before his class and reads a report on Charles Lindbergh as it offers fantastic insight into Aaron Kurlander's strong spirit.

Beautifully acted, and brilliantly written, this film is an underrated jewel. I recommend "King of the Hill" to anyone, and make no apologies for saying that this is my very favorite film.

Steven Sodebergh has had his ups and downs as a director, and now he is on the upswing again with his recent successes, "Out of Sight" and "Erin Brockovich". Sodebergh's best film, however, is the less acknowledged "King of the Hill". Released in 1993, it got lost amongst the many great films that came out that year like "Schindler's List", "The Piano" and "The Age of Innocence". But this film, in my opinion, is among the best films released in the '90's.

The film stars Jesse Bradford, in a brilliant, commanding performance, as a resourceful child who must make his own way in Depression-era St. Louis. The film successfully depicts the hopes and fears of children, and unlike other films about children, portrays its hero as intelligent and responsible.

"Out of Sight" may be more stylistically dazzling and "Erin Brockovich" may have more star power, but "King of the Hill" radiates with the power of a film passionately made.

"King of the Hill" was Steven Soderbergh's third film, following "Sex, Lies, and Videotape" and the inscrutable "Kafka." Compared to these films, "King of the Hill" is a small and straight-forward tale of the Depression. Jesse Bradford ("Swimfan") stars as Aaron Kurlander, a bright youngster in 1933 St. Louis. His family is impoverished, although his salesman father (Jeroen Krabbe) manages (barely) to keep them fed and housed. However, when the family's fortunes take a down-turn, they decide to send Aaron's younger brother to live with relatives. Then Aaron's mother has a relapse of TB and goes to a sanitarium. Finally, his father gets a traveling salesman job and leaves. So, Aaron finds himself alone in their apartment trying to fend for himself.

Based on a memoir by A. E. Hotchner, "King of the Hill" is a cruel film. Anyone who has ever been mistreated as a youth is likely to wince at scenes depicting Aaron's hurt at being left behind or his painful attempts to cover up his poverty from his wealthy classmates. The film is outstanding at every level - directing, acting, cinematography. Jesse Bradford has gone on to a career as a bit of a vapid teen idol, but his performance here is as wise and deep as any I've seen from a child. Adrien Brody also has one of his earliest roles as Aaron's older "mentor." Finally, watch for Lauryn Hill as the gum-popping elevator operator.

As of this writing, "King of the Hill" has not been released on DVD. That such a terrific film has been so overlooked is nothing short of criminal. It's obviously a small film, but by focusing on one boy, "King of the Hill" is able to portray the horrors and desperation of the Depression far more vividly than many "bigger" dramas, such as "Ironweed." Most highly recommended.

I confess I haven't seen this movie on video -- I saw it only once at the theater several years ago when it was first released ... and I've always been baffled by its commercial failure. (Not even "sophisticated" moviegoers in New York, where I caught it at the only moviehouse that deigned at the time to screen it, seemed interested.) It's just plain terrific, and if perhaps by talking it up in this space I can help to convince its distributor to rerelease it, my words won't have been in vain. Understated, with beautifully muted colors and Soderbergh's unsentimental appreciation for depression-era life (and, eventually, survival) in a shabby St. Louis residential hotel. Based, as I recall, on a physician's memoir of his boyhood. Hope I haven't portrayed it as solemn and dreary -- it's anything but.

Restrained, gentle, nonjudgemental story about a young boy struggling to keep his life together in the midst of his family being ripped apart by the economic hardship of the U.S. Great Depression. Every performance, no matter how small, is brilliant: from Karen Allen's concerned teacher to Jerone Krabbe's insecure, fearful father to Adrien Brody's superb, sexy swagger as the young boy's mentor; from Spalding Gray's affluent neighbor to Elizabeth McGovern's wry hooker. This show, however, belongs to two people -- Jesse Bradford as young Aaron, and to the filmmaker, Steven Soderberg, who never ceases to astonish with a smart, witty, heartbreaking screenplay, and visual imagery you are not likely to forget. A perfect film.

This is one of my all time favorite movies. It was also made in my hometown of St. Louis. For a moment, a boy loses his family one by one and is threatened to leave the place where they all once lived, alone without money or food. It's not a very well known movie but if I were to recommend it to anyone, I'm sure they would lke as much as I have. Please bring it out on DVD!

This is one the most triumphant films that I have ever seen. It spoke to me spiritually, emotionally, and physically, few films have reached my soul and spirit to this depth. If you have a thankless or restless teenager in your life, rent this film and watch it together. It is bound to create a very deep bond and many deep conversations. It will be an experience that they will never forget, and for that matter, neither will you!

This is on my personal list of top ten movies ever. Everything seemed to work together to make a touching,and great emotional movie . The acting was subperb and elegant, Huzzah! to the cast and crew. Everytime I watch this story of Aaron Kurlander played magnificently by Jesse Bradford I want to be there to help him and his family through their tough times during the great depression. No movie has made me feel this way, from saddness to great exhiliration. A must see for everyone who knows and loves the art of movies.

I remember seeing this movie on STARZ when I was younger. I loved it so much. The way the characters were portrayed made me want to see it over again and again. After seeing the movie I found out my grandma had the book. It is also really good. I have been searching for this movie on dvd for a long time. I finally decided to search a query again on here and see that it is pending to be released.

The movie is both comical and dramatic. Aaron has to fend for himself while his mother is in an institution, his brother at camp, and his father is selling useless stuff during The Depression.

Aaron strives so hard to do the best he can and well I can't spoil the movie for everyone....SO RELEASE THE MOVIE ON DVD!!!

One of the more overlooked Steven Soderbergh movies, but perhaps one of the best, this little film wisely portrays an appealing and poignant coming-of-age story in a late-twenties America. Although the plot brings nothing new, this movie is still very well-crafted, suceeding in every element. The acting is uniformely great, the score is compelling, the directing is captivating and the colour texture of the scenes is memmorable. Soderbergh manages to tell a bitersweet tale, both funny and sad, remaining believable and true-to-life from beginning to end. The last scene in particular is an excellent mix between hapiness and melancholy, providing and adequate ambiguous resolution. Jesse Bradford is excellent as the confused smart kid in trouble, offering an honest and very convincing performance. Frankly, I think this movie is much better than some overrated films ..., the more well-known titles that turned Soderbergh into a big name director.

A solid cinematic experience.