Sunday Cinema Zed: Odd Man Out

Odd Man Out - 1947
Director: Carol Reed
Starring: James Mason,
Robert Newton & Cyril Cusack

Fantastic film ostensibly about a botched burglary staged by Irish revolutionaries and sold as an exciting film noir, which it is if that is all you want from it. However this film is not truly about burglary or the IRA, it is not even a political statement it is a morality play. What this film is truly about is how a variety of people treat a condemned and dying man in the last 8 hours or so of his life. It is about what goes on inside his head ... it is about compassion ... it is about the lack of compassion - It is about redemption - and the denial of redemption.
It is about
hope
despair
love
life
death

There are aspects to the visuals that are important to take note of, shadows of crosses here and there, the rain that turns to snow as the film progresses that becomes steadier heavier and harder through to the end, the isolation the COLD... the distance from GOD... Pay attention to the scene near to the end where he is with the painter and the paintings come to life with the priest among them - he is reciting the bible in this scene...

See the film. It will vastly improve your character.

2 Speak¹⁶⁹⁶ to⁴¹³ the children¹¹²¹ of Israel,³⁴⁷⁸ saying,⁵⁵⁹ Appoint⁵⁴¹⁴ out for you ⁸⁵³ cities⁵⁸⁹² of refuge,⁴⁷³³ whereof⁸³⁴ I spoke¹⁶⁹⁶ unto⁴¹³ you by the hand³⁰²⁷ of Moses:⁴⁸⁷² 3 That the slayer⁷⁵²³ that killeth⁵²²¹ any person⁵³¹⁵ unawares⁷⁶⁸⁴ and unwittingly^{1097 1847} may flee⁵¹²⁷ thither:⁸⁰³³ and they shall be¹⁹⁶¹ your refuge⁴⁷³³ from the avenger^{4480 1350} of blood.¹⁸¹⁸

~ Joshua 20

Joshua 20 - The Cities of Refuge