If I remember correctly, I heard about “Catch-22” in connection with “Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb” and that is one of my favourite movies, so I had to see “Catch-22” too.
Directed by: Mike Nichols
Genres: Comedy, War
Cast: Alan Arkin, Martin Balsam, Richard Benjamin, Art Garfunkel, Jack Gilford, Buck Henry, Bob Newhart, Anthony Perkins, Paula Prentiss, Martin Sheen, Jon Voight, Orson Welles, Bob Balaban, Susanne Benton, Norman Fell
IMDB raintg: 7.0
My rating: 7.0 [rate 7.0]
I liked “Dr.Strangelove” better, but “Catch-22” was also an excellent movie. It started of as a war comedy, but progressed through some romance into a war drama. Some of the jokes aged and aren’t funny anymore, but others stand as they were back in the 1970, when the film was released. The atmosphere also reminds that of “Dr.Strangelove”.
The film was directed by Mike Nichols, who is also famous by other films like “The Graduate” with Dustin Hoffman, “Heartburn” with Jack Nicholson, “Angels in America” TV series with Al Pacino, and most recently “Closer” with a whole bunch of young celebrities. “Catch-22” is the most technology challanging movie out of all these and there were some really interesting scenes. Particularly I liked the take off of a bunch of planes and a crash landing of one of the planes in the beginning of the film.
In the actors department, it was nice to see Martin Sheen. He is one of the those people who bring the war atmosphere easily into the movie. Also it was a good decision to give the main role to Alan Arkin. He is a talanted actor and can contribute greatly.
Resume: the film is a war and comedy classic and should be seen by anyone interested in the genres.