The Prize

Directed by Mark Robson, The Prize follows an American author (Paul Newman’s Andrew Craig) as he arrives in Sweden to receive a Nobel and subsequently finds himself drawn into a conspiracy involving a fellow winner (Edward G. Robinson’s Max Stratman). It’s an appealing premise that’s employed to periodically engrossing yet mostly underwhelming effect by Robson, and there’s little doubt that the movie, which runs an absurd 134 minutes, gets off to a less-than-promising start – with the emphasis initially placed on the tiresome (and fairly pointless) antics of the various characters. (The continuing emphasis on lackluster subplots, including an ongoing battle between rival scientists, only enhances the far-from-enthralling vibe.) And while the eventual introduction of the aforementioned conspiracy does provide the picture with a much-needed jolt of energy, The Prize, despite a winning Newman turn, ultimately progresses into a sluggish midsection and second half that’s hardly as taut or thrilling as one might’ve anticipated (ie the recurring inclusion of lighthearted episodes is unwelcome, to say the least) – with the end result a padded-out misfire that might’ve worked had it been streamlined considerably.

** out of ****