Like most of Hal Ashby's films, there is a clarity of look and narrative that makes the film immediately compelling. Like Ruth Gordon in "Harold and Maude" Peter Sellers as Chance the Gardner tells us a few truths that stand at the center as well as quite outside the box of our daily lives. Obvious and unique. Contradictions co-existing in perfect harmony. Peter Sellers is superb, without ever betraying the grayness of his existence. It took me a while, I must confess, to settle in. I had seen the Goeffry Rush film about Sellers's life and it implied an effort to take those thoughts and images out of my mind and allow Chancey, without Sellers, to take me away. He did, he took me away completely. What a remarkable piece of acting. A special mention should go to Melvyn Douglas as well. Moving and powerful at the end of a legendary career. Highly recommended.
Review of Being There
