Watch Marathon Man

Marathon Man is a thrilling psychological drama movie from 1976, directed by John Schlesinger and featuring an incredible cast that includes Dustin Hoffman, Laurence Olivier, and Roy Scheider. The film is an adaptation of William Goldman's novel of the same name and tells the story of a graduate student named Thomas "Babe" Levy, who gets caught up in a dangerous web of conspiracy and espionage.

The movie takes place in New York City during the 1970s. Hoffman plays the role of Babe, a PhD history student and part-time long-distance runner. Babe is a bit of an absent-minded intellectual who is struggling to complete his dissertation. He also happens to be the younger brother of Doc Levy, a wealthy and successful businessman who has a secret past as a government agent. When Doc is murdered, Babe becomes the target of a shadowy organization that wants to retrieve some mysterious documents that Doc supposedly stole.

Laurence Olivier delivers a stunning performance as Dr. Christian Szell, a former Nazi dentist who has been living in hiding in Uruguay for years. Szell is a ruthless sadist who is obsessed with extracting information from Babe's brother's research notes. When he realizes that Babe has no idea where the notes are, Szell switches his focus to Babe himself, subjecting him to a series of horrific dental torture sessions.

Meanwhile, Babe is being pursued by the police, who suspect him of being involved in his brother's death. He follows a trail of clues that lead him to a secret bank account in Switzerland, where he discovers the true identity of his brother's killers. As he races against time to stay alive, Babe starts to uncover a massive conspiracy that involves the US government, the Nazis, and the diamond trade.

Roy Scheider plays the role of Henry "Hank" Levy, Babe's older brother who is also a former CIA agent. Scheider imbues the character with a sense of world-weariness and regret, as Hank tries to shield Babe from the dangerous world that he used to inhabit. Despite his best efforts, Babe finds himself pulled deeper and deeper into the conspiracies and violence that surround him.

Marathon Man is a masterpiece of suspenseful cinema, with excellent cinematography, writing, and performances. The film explores themes of trauma, guilt, and loyalty in a post-war world that is still struggling to come to terms with the horrors of the past. Hoffman's portrayal of Babe is particularly impressive, as he conveys the character's growing sense of paranoia and desperation with nuance and depth.

The movie also contains some iconic scenes that have become classic moments in cinematic history, including the infamous "Is it safe?" scene where Olivier's character tortures Babe with dental instruments. The film's tension and suspense build to a thrilling climax in which Babe confronts Szell and finally learns the truth about his brother's death.

Overall, Marathon Man is a must-see movie for fans of psychological thrillers and political dramas. Its tense atmosphere, complex characters, and thought-provoking themes make it a timeless masterpiece that will continue to captivate audiences for generations to come.

Marathon Man is a 1976 thriller with a runtime of 2 hours and 5 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.4 and a MetaScore of 64.