Being There (1979)
This is a pretty famous movie, but I don’t agree with any of the reasons why it was so well-received. If you really want to watch it, go ahead. Just know what you’re getting into.
Reason 1: Peter Sellers gives a tour-de-force performance. I don’t agree. Yes, he’s usually known for playing hilarious roles, but Being There wasn’t his first or only dramatic performance. For a truly great dramatic performance from Sellers, watch Hoffman. In Being There, he gives one dull expression, and it’s far from impressive.
Reason 2: Melvyn Douglas gives an Academy Award winning performance. Technically, that’s true; he won the Oscar in 1979, but I thought it was undeserved. In this movie, he was 78 years old, and I felt very sad watching his performance; he was very frail. I have great respect for actors who continue working through their old age, but I didn’t see a very powerful performance in this case. Perhaps this was a make-up Oscar for I Never Sang for My Father.
Reason 3: Shirley MacLaine is dynamite. I love Shirley MacLaine, but I don’t even understand why she took this role. Call me old-fashioned, but decades of filmmaking during the Hays Code proved actresses were able to show off every talent without taking their clothes off or doing a sex scene. I’ve never been impressed by someone’s acting talents because of an ‘R’ rating. I’m not spoiling anything, because this is far from being a critical plot point, but there’s a scene in the movie where Shirley MacLaine, well, does herself a favor. I’m convinced one of the only reasons why this movie got any attention at all was because of this scene.
Reason 4: The plot is deep and poignant. I don’t agree. Being There is about a simple-minded gardener who soaks up and believes what the television shows him. I don’t think that’s very deep; I think he’s just simple-minded. Due to a misunderstanding, the gardener is believed to be a rich, intelligent businessman. People take his simple statements to be very profound, and he influences everyone’s lives. Again, I don’t think that’s deep. It’s an obvious mockery, too obvious, in my opinion.
Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to a graphic sex scene, I wouldn’t let my kids watch it.
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "Ugur Yucel" for posting!
More Richard Basehart movies here!
More Shirley MacLaine movies here!
Reason 1: Peter Sellers gives a tour-de-force performance. I don’t agree. Yes, he’s usually known for playing hilarious roles, but Being There wasn’t his first or only dramatic performance. For a truly great dramatic performance from Sellers, watch Hoffman. In Being There, he gives one dull expression, and it’s far from impressive.
Reason 2: Melvyn Douglas gives an Academy Award winning performance. Technically, that’s true; he won the Oscar in 1979, but I thought it was undeserved. In this movie, he was 78 years old, and I felt very sad watching his performance; he was very frail. I have great respect for actors who continue working through their old age, but I didn’t see a very powerful performance in this case. Perhaps this was a make-up Oscar for I Never Sang for My Father.
Reason 3: Shirley MacLaine is dynamite. I love Shirley MacLaine, but I don’t even understand why she took this role. Call me old-fashioned, but decades of filmmaking during the Hays Code proved actresses were able to show off every talent without taking their clothes off or doing a sex scene. I’ve never been impressed by someone’s acting talents because of an ‘R’ rating. I’m not spoiling anything, because this is far from being a critical plot point, but there’s a scene in the movie where Shirley MacLaine, well, does herself a favor. I’m convinced one of the only reasons why this movie got any attention at all was because of this scene.
Reason 4: The plot is deep and poignant. I don’t agree. Being There is about a simple-minded gardener who soaks up and believes what the television shows him. I don’t think that’s very deep; I think he’s just simple-minded. Due to a misunderstanding, the gardener is believed to be a rich, intelligent businessman. People take his simple statements to be very profound, and he influences everyone’s lives. Again, I don’t think that’s deep. It’s an obvious mockery, too obvious, in my opinion.
Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to a graphic sex scene, I wouldn’t let my kids watch it.
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "Ugur Yucel" for posting!
More Richard Basehart movies here!
More Shirley MacLaine movies here!