The Hudsucker Proxy

Name: The Hudsucker Proxy
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Comedy, Romance
Released: March 11, 1994
Duration: 111 min
Rating: 53
Cast: Jennifer Jason Leigh, Paul Newman, Tim Robbins

1994

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 19 Critics

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 54 Ratings

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7.3

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7.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 54 Ratings

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THE HUDSUCKER PROXY

Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: March 11, 1994

Starring: Jennifer Jason Leigh, Paul Newman, Tim Robbins

Summary: A satirical comedy about the world of big business and corporate greed. An ambitious but naive young man rapidly moves up the corporate ladder from the mailroom to the executive suite, unaware that he is part of the board of directors' nefarious scheme. (Warner Bros.)

Director: Ethan Coen and Joel Coen

Genre(s): Drama, Fantasy, Comedy, Romance

Rating: PG

Runtime: 111 min

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Critic Reviews

ReelViews - James Berardinelli

With its refined wit and glorious vision, The Hudsucker Proxy is certainly deserving of a wide audience. Read full review

Empire - Kim Newman

While not to everyone's tastes, this is without doubt one of the most exhilarating films of 1994. Read full review

San Francisco Chronicle - Edward Guthmann

The Hudsucker Proxy is the Coens' fifth feature in a decade, and you can see their tremendous artistic growth in every frame of the film. Classically composed, beautifully shot by Roger Deakins ("Barton Fink") and co-produced by legendary action-flick producer Joel Silver, Hudsucker has technique and visual invention to spare. [11 Mar 1994, p.C3]

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) - Geoff Pevere

The Coen brothers have made the A-list of writer/directors with their big-budget replicants of Hollywood genres, but the wisecracking Hudsucker Proxy is all comic sound and fury signifying nothing All talk, no substance. [11 Mar 1994, p.C3]

The New York Times - Caryn James

Stylish and witty though it is, The Hudsucker Proxy has its problems, even for Coen fans. But throughout, there are wonderfully rich touches. Read full review

Chicago Reader - Jonathan Rosenbaum

At its best it's a free-form fantasy with glitzy, well-executed effects and assorted metaphysical conceits but little feeling for any of the characters apart from derision (with a few touches of racism here and there). Read full review

Wall Street Journal - Julie Salamon

Don't bother to see this film unless you expect to be tested in film class about the Coens' serial dissertation on American cinema. [10 Mar 1994, p.A16]

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User Reviews

gkolpan

Sep 18, 2010

Simply one of the greatest movies ever made, with an outrageous and uproarious performance by Jennifer Jason Leigh. A homage to the great screwball comedies of the past, but strained through '90's irony. Great dialogue, incredible design and a wonderful score. If you're under 40, youSimply one of the greatest movies ever made, with an outrageous and uproarious performance by Jennifer Jason Leigh. A homage to the great screwball comedies of the past, but strained through '90's irony. Great dialogue, incredible design and a wonderful score. If you're under 40, you probably won't get it, but if you just use your imagination the way the Coens used theirs, you'll love "Proxy."

And remember...The Future is Now.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

MattA.

Jul 20, 2007

The critics totally blew it on this one. The best performance of Tim Robbin's mediocre career, and some of the best work both Jennifer Jason Leigh and Paul Newman have done as well. A brilliant homage to classic 30's, 40's and 50's movies starring Cary Grant, James The critics totally blew it on this one. The best performance of Tim Robbin's mediocre career, and some of the best work both Jennifer Jason Leigh and Paul Newman have done as well. A brilliant homage to classic 30's, 40's and 50's movies starring Cary Grant, James Stewart and the like. Easily one of the Coen's brothers best three movies (along with Fargo and Raising Arizona).… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful

OneWhoKnows

Aug 25, 2010

OK All Napoleon Dynamite fans depart... this is NOT a film for you. This film has the most unique, artistic and wonderful cinematography of any movie I have seen. For those of you who don't know the "HULA HOOP" is an actual toy that children played with beginning in the late 50's. This filmOK All Napoleon Dynamite fans depart... this is NOT a film for you. This film has the most unique, artistic and wonderful cinematography of any movie I have seen. For those of you who don't know the "HULA HOOP" is an actual toy that children played with beginning in the late 50's. This film is a delightful romp pretending to document the invention of the hoop. ENJOY! the brothers made a fine film AGAIN!… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

beeanadou

May 20, 2018

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Best Coen brothers' movie ever, they hardly film a good ending and this one beats many mediocre new year's eve DVDs which are too cliché. Simple business story blends with a little fantasy and romance.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

PearsonM.

Nov 17, 2007

Either you get the magic of this movie, or you don't. If you don't, I could see how it might be hard to watch, however, if you do, you'll be rewarded with wonderfully imagined story -part homage, part fantasy, part success story, and part romance.

2 of 2 users found this helpful

BerC

Jun 13, 2016

The artistic medium of film is very subjective. Every audience member has a different set of criteria they use to measure their viewing experience. Not everyone shares the same set of criteria. If we did, what a bland and uninspired world this would be.

What I Personally Liked About "TheThe artistic medium of film is very subjective. Every audience member has a different set of criteria they use to measure their viewing experience. Not everyone shares the same set of criteria. If we did, what a bland and uninspired world this would be.

What I Personally Liked About "The Hudsucker Proxy":
I would be remiss if I were not to point out right off the bat that the dialogue in this film is superlative. The Coen Brothers have long been known for their sharp tongues and witty turning of phrases and they hit a home run with this production. The precision and the pacing they so easily pull out of the throats of their thespians is astonishing and adds vibrant depth to the already gilded screenplay. Another highlight is the attention paid to the tiniest of comedic details. For example, Waring Hudsucker cleaning one lens of his glasses on his long voyage down to the sidewalk or Norville Barnes turning a drawing of a circle around because he felt it was upside down. This film is so fully packed it feels like it's bursting at the seams with hilarity. This film also made a Jennifer Jason Leigh fan out of me. I hadn't been all that familiar with her work the first time I saw "Hudsucker"; now I cannot seem to get enough. In this motion picture, it doesn't feel like she becomes the character of Amy Archer, it feels like she allows the character to become HER. It's like she lifted the words directly off the page, opened herself up and filled her body with each and every richly nuanced component. Jim True also gives a magnificent performance as the elevator operator Buzz; so much so, in fact, that he outshines leading man Tim Robbins in many of the scenes they share.

What I Personally Disliked About "The Hudsucker Proxy":
A small nitpick I had when the movie was first released is the fact that the secret behind Norville's idea of the circle being a hula hoop was revealed in the promotional material. A lot of people have voiced that opinion over the years and for very good reason. Still, the secret would have gotten out eventually. I just would have preferred to go into the film blind and allow the surprise to have more impact. Another small quibble, which has nothing to do with what is actually shown on screen, is the fact that this is perhaps the most underrated of all the films the Coens have unleashed upon the cinematic community. It definitely deserves better than to be collecting dust in the backs of the minds of most cinephiles. A final criticism is that Bruce Campbell feels underutilized in the role of Smitty. Here we have a talent whose style matches the period of this film perfectly and who seems like he was tailor made to work for the Coen Brothers. Yet they almost downplay his role in the newsroom and don't let him liberate the full force of his jocular prowess.

My Overall Impression of "The Hudsucker Proxy":
The spirited momentum behind this movie never lets up and never feels like it is being spread too thin. The Coens show they have grown more comfortable with their writing and directing skills. The cast is splendid all the way from the top of the board room (Paul Newman) to the bottom of the beatnik juice and coffee bar (Steve Buscemi); even the sets are unerringly designed. Everything gels together like silky cream being poured over smooth caramel. When people used to say "They don't make 'em like they used to," they obviously didn't have the opportunity to see this one!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

KenD.

Mar 2, 2008

The critics are right. It's a cold fish of a film, however well art directed it may be. It's as though the Coen's became so absorbed by the filmmaking process they forgot what they were doing it for. Along with The Ladykillers, it's their worst.

1 of 3 users found this helpful

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