This film obviously means different things to different people. Some people that I know personally can't get through the first 10 minutes without being bored.
However, "Being There" is my favorite movie ever.
There isn't much I can say that hasn't been said before about this movie. But here we go...
Peter Sellers' performance as Chance the gardener is truly a master at work. We see Tom Hanks and Dustin Hoffman do their performances as simpletons and mentally handicapped persons and they just seem like cartoon characters. Sellers' Chance is a perfect performance, balancing Chance's wonder, confusion and ignorance without ever making a cheap or obvious joke. His timing, his facial expressions and his moments of silence maintains a wonderful and memorable character that never loses his substance. Sellers keeps his game face of near blankness without ever collapsing into cinematic clichés in this area.
I have read a few reviews of this film and I am always amazed that no one ever mentions the tears in Chance's eyes when Ben passes. Am I dreaming when I see them? Tears in his eyes is a hint that Chance is growing; that, since the passing of "the old man" where Chance was literally numb to grief, he suddenly is struck with emotion. God I love that.
Peter Sellers and Shirley McClain(sp?) together on screen remains one of the most beautiful on-screen couples I think. The class, the sensuality and the simple beauty between them makes them so very charming. Even with Sellers' failing health they both look very beautiful together.
And the ending. Again, many different ideas on what it means, if anything. Personally...I think it shows that Chance is not subject to many things in this life just because of his isolation from so much of it and his simple ignorance to these very basic realities. Maybe it just shows that he is a kind heart and nothing can defeat him? I dunno.
I have tried to write something a little different here on my first review. Maybe I'll get better at it eventually.
However, "Being There" is my favorite movie ever.
There isn't much I can say that hasn't been said before about this movie. But here we go...
Peter Sellers' performance as Chance the gardener is truly a master at work. We see Tom Hanks and Dustin Hoffman do their performances as simpletons and mentally handicapped persons and they just seem like cartoon characters. Sellers' Chance is a perfect performance, balancing Chance's wonder, confusion and ignorance without ever making a cheap or obvious joke. His timing, his facial expressions and his moments of silence maintains a wonderful and memorable character that never loses his substance. Sellers keeps his game face of near blankness without ever collapsing into cinematic clichés in this area.
I have read a few reviews of this film and I am always amazed that no one ever mentions the tears in Chance's eyes when Ben passes. Am I dreaming when I see them? Tears in his eyes is a hint that Chance is growing; that, since the passing of "the old man" where Chance was literally numb to grief, he suddenly is struck with emotion. God I love that.
Peter Sellers and Shirley McClain(sp?) together on screen remains one of the most beautiful on-screen couples I think. The class, the sensuality and the simple beauty between them makes them so very charming. Even with Sellers' failing health they both look very beautiful together.
And the ending. Again, many different ideas on what it means, if anything. Personally...I think it shows that Chance is not subject to many things in this life just because of his isolation from so much of it and his simple ignorance to these very basic realities. Maybe it just shows that he is a kind heart and nothing can defeat him? I dunno.
I have tried to write something a little different here on my first review. Maybe I'll get better at it eventually.