Excellent, Mike Nichols best

Rating: 8/10 (28 August 2005)

I agree with the comments made by Andy, it was definitely Mike Nichols best work. Allan Arkin was insane and the rest of the characters were casted perfectly. Seeing Orson Welles on screen nearly through me from my seat. I caught this film on PBS totally by accident and in the middle of the film. I had no idea what I was watching. I called the station and pleaded with someone to tell me the name of the movie. They did and the following day I ran out and bought it. I'm a filmmaker and love those type of films. I thought the pace was excellent quick and jerky in the beginning then settling in the middle and then up again at the end. Especially when Yossarin made his escape. I love the clever way in which the pilot, I forget his name was practicing and planning his escape.
I also agree with Andy's point about the book. I read the book by Joseph Heller much later and felt the film and the movie were two different entities, not to be judged the same.
There is no way to escape the great lines in this film. Especially the explanation about what a 'catch 22' is by Doc Daneeka to Yossarin. It was delivered with such length, patience and a matter of fact way that made it hilarious to me. That was some of the funniest stuff in cinema history...
"That's some catch that catch 22! It's the best there isss!"