giant (1956)

this is the best kind of long film: over three hours, in mirror'd halves incredibly distinct, distant poles of tone/imagery/behaviour relating to the other, yet the whole of an immersive poetic resonance ...  james dean's performance is mystic; it's science-fiction unto itself: a classic example of the cinema at its purest, medium-specific, dramatic form :: the capturing of rare and intense presence. ...because he was passionate, and passion holds sway over the universe...  Lots of Texas; a woven texture of the state's founding act of Violence over the native Mexicans,  lots of drawl, lots of cowboy hats :: the performing ensemble, — including a young dennis hopper with a significant role, acting almost as the virtuous neurotic visual counter-point to james dean, — is equally brilliant in its support; never did i desire to not see what was happening in front of me, nor wished to return once it was gone. Fellini-evoking Crowds :: large groups of synchronized people, persons composed, treated as cultural colour; swirling movement and motion. Giant (1956) is the prototype of the television mini-series, so, dig it.