Movie worth watching... :) The Elephant man .................................. Parents need to know that this emotionally intense movie contains possibly disturbing imagery of cruel treatment, deformities, and surgery. It also treats thoughtfully its themes of exploitation, kindness, and strength of the human spirit. Whats the story? In THE ELEPHANT MAN, Dr. Frederick Treves (Anthony Hopkins) makes a shocking discovery at a carnival side show: an Elephant Man (John Hurt) exhibiting a grotesque deformity over most of his body. Because hes sick and shows signs of abuse, hes brought to London Hospital, where hes studied and made a spectacle of all over again. Another shock comes when it becomes clear that Merrick isnt the imbecile they thought he was, but a compassionate and literate gentleman whos been playing dumb out of fear. Treves exposes him to culture, finery, things hes only dreamed of experiencing, yet a question gnaws at him. Is he exploiting his unfortunate friend for personal gain? Under his supervision, John Merrick, who suffers from a disfigurement of the most extreme nature, is clothed, fed, shown a loving care hes never before known, but hes still on display, still a freak, and through him Treves has made a name for himself in the medical community and London society. Is it good? ...................... Five stars... Based on The Elephant Man and Other Reminisces by the real-life Treves, as well as Ashley Montagus The Elephant Man: A Study in Human Dignity, this dark and beautiful 1980 movie leaves the question unanswered. Director and co-writer David Lynch doesnt explain the characters actions, which makes them good topics of discussion for teenagers mature enough to tackle the subject matter. Lynch doesnt sentimentalize, either, or tone down his trademark haunting imagery (the design for John Hurts makeup came from casts of the real John Merrick). He gives us Victorian England in all of its squalor, but he also gives us his most deeply affecting work in starkly beautiful black and white. Standouts in a phenomenal cast are stars Anthony Hopkins and John Hurt, Anne Bancroft, John Gielgud, and Kenny Baker, the dwarf who, upon leading Merrick toward freedom, says, Luck, my friend. Luck. And who needs it more than we? Theatrical release date: October 3, 1980 DVD release date: May 13, 2003 Cast: Anne Bancroft, Anthony Hopkins, John Hurt Director: David Lynch Studio: Paramount Pictures Genre: Drama Run time: 123 minutes MPAA rating: PG-13 MPAA explanation: Parental Guidance Suggested youtu.be/ye4YTZOq2fk
Posted on: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 17:03:12 +0000
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