mwarburton

A pot-boiler of a Film that is intelligently crafted by Director Robert Parrish. To some it may seem intolerably slow & lacking pace, but to others like myself the Film does something that nearly all Films in the Fifties and indeed many now do not even attempt to achieve, and that is take the time to investigate the main characters in depth and in detail. This is done not via long tracts of dialogue, but via the un-said. In particular Peck and the astonishingly beautiful and talented Win Man Than as 'Anna' develop their relationship in the Film in the subtlest and most delicate of manners. I can find no further information on Win Man Tan, but her performance in this period piece, is one part enchanting, one part mesmerising. We understand fully how Peck's psychiatric problems eventually dissolve as hie begins to find perspective courtesy of love for 'Anna'. This Film is not staggering nor the best piece of Cinema you will ever see, but it is superbly acted, wonderfully cast, sparingly written, adroitly directed, and deserves to be watched by anyone who has a love of Cinema. Recommended, because what we see at our Cinemas today has MUCH to learn from Movie making such as this.

Avanti is many things and this is why it has and may never receive the acclaim it deserves. Some may dismiss it or indeed try to define it simply as a rom-com. It is SO much more. It is a love story and a very moving one at that. It is a farce. It is a more straight forward comedy. It is a delightful and dexterous comedy-Film that combines European and American cultures and for once melds them beautifully. Lemmon gives one of his best performances, whilst Juliet Mills gives the performance of her career. Clive Revill almost steals the film, and all the supporting Actors are superb. How Juliet Mills & Jack Lemmon did not only not get nominated but not win Oscars for Avanti! is beyond me. And right the way through the writing is superb and soaring above all of it the class, the quality, the brilliance of one of the great Film-makers of all time, Billy Wilder. This film is for adults, it is not a family movie, and it's all the better for it. It's brave, bold and deeply funny and humane. You really would have to be deeply cynical and appallingly humourless not to find this Film funny and moving. Got get it on DVD today, I'd be astonished if you don't make a life-long friend with this movie once you've watched it.

OK, so, this is what we need more, MUCH more of in this crazy old world of ours - fiercely creative, sick, funny, intelligent, gifted, verbose, humble, crazy, insane, poetic, respectful, self- deprecating, insulting, challenging, delusional and brave human beings. The Aristocrats provides you with more laughter, more sickness, more furious filth pound for pound than almost any other DVD you'll ever get (apart from maybe something by Derek & Clive). Go buy it, enjoy, tell your friends to buy it - they'll enjoy. And if you ever want to know if you are dating the right guy or girl, why perhaps you married or shouldn't have married your current partner or whether you really have very much in common with a friend or not - sit them down in front of this, and if you find it funny and they don't, then you are right, they are wrong and it's time you all saw less of each other. I'm a human posing as a Britisher and have nothing to gain from any of the aforementioned and the increased sales figures of The Aristocrats DVD. I am however very much in favour of laughter. Thankyou, and goodnight.