I refuse to examine films in reference to how they may or may not do justice to its original form if adapted from another medium. As far as I'm concerned they stand or fall on their own. Period. As an example from yet another medium, Radio, Orson Wells adaptation of 'War Of The Worlds' outstripped H.G.'s original. Go with the winner.
Wit is an example of film as chamber music, perhaps Bartok's 4th String Quartet masterfully played. It is beautiful. It is fearsome. It is not for everybody expecting idle entertainment. The subject matter is --- impossible to deal with --- yet yields an amazingly beautiful piece of work.
There are telling moments that assure me that this is a masterpiece. The 'Runaway Bunny', Emma Thompson's 'takes' done without sentimental flourish, a quote from Charles Ives's 'Unanswered Question', the researcher yet to become human, popsicles, Gorecki 3. This is the A team at work!
Mike Nichols is quite sensibly restrained, Emma Thompson is simply astonishing --- chamber music.
If you have a taste for adult films this is one for you.
No sentimentalism, no hollywood bedtime story, a confrontation. Everything is stripped down to essentials --- as one is --- nearing death.
3 out of 3 found this helpful