Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

source: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Trailer—Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

An endurance test lasting 2 hours 10 minutes, which is just about the time taken to complete the London Marathon. I seem to remember having attempted this test several times in the past, and last night I made it all the way through. I give myself a medal. This must be one of the most tedious, unamusing, unentertaining, undramatic performances of all time. There is no pleasure whatsoever to be had in watching four terminally uninteresting individuals get increasingly drunk, and then start punishing and mentally abusing each other in unfunny, unwitty, unintelligent ways at inordinate alcoholic length. This is the kind of play that if it hadn't existed would have had to be invented, if only for the sake of completeness: the bottom end on a scale of excellence to atrociousness. What on earth do people see in this ? I just kept hoping it would end. Even the title is meaningless. Even the acting is unconvincing and unrealistic.

ABSOLUTE TEN !! This is a masterpiece and it is mandatory that you watch it. If you are an adult (not for children) and have not seen this movie, please reward yourself and rent or buy the movie. Like Jonah and the great whale, you too will be swallowed, but into the overwhelming emotions of this very very great screenplay. The movie was shot in B&W with a small cast of actors, but who notices? Burton and Taylor at their absolute B-E-S-T. Like a bug-light draws moths, you will be dragged into this one.

Sick love, hate, regret, cruelty, resentment. Several negative feelings are present in this film, a couple with a bitter life, in which they are trapped with no possibility of exit due to the sick love of the characters. In addition, there is a hatred between them, shown in the most cruel and perverse ways, not physically, but in a worse, psychological way, I believe it must be worse because there is no way to defend yourself from that, always with ironies and direct attacks on the each other's weak points. Also, the regret of being in that abusive relationship and not being able to leave, regret of having said such mean things, regret of having so much resentment. Funny on the one hand and very sad on the other, because there are couples who live exactly like the example shown in the movie (maybe even worse).

Simply put, this is one of my favourite films of all time. Great acting, great writing and great camerawork make this close to cinematic perfection. Liz Taylor and Richard Burton give the performances of their lives. Sandy Dennis also shines in an early-ish role. It's a dramatic film, but the wicked humour that permeates the film is absolutely devastating, and I mean that in the best possible way. Many moments in the film I find myself laughing only to think, "Should I be laughing at this." Certainly the film is loaded with uncomfortable moments, enhanced by the camerawork replete with uneasy close-ups. Most of all, this film shows how a lot can be accomplished with just a little: a cast of four and minimal scenery changes. "Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf" has become an absolute icon of American cinema. If you haven't seen it, what are you waiting for?

...add the catalysers youth and alcohol and wait for the sky to fall down. Seldom will you encounter such overwhelmingly magnificent performances as those found here - quite literally, breathtaking and unsurpassed.

The games people play. Throughout this entire film (based on an intense play by Edward Albee), we are never sure what the truth is. George and Martha have a marriage made in hell. They have an intense hatred of one another fueled by years of disappointment. Then again, perhaps this is how they express their love. Enter Sandy Dennis and George Segal who believe they are attending a quiet evening with an again professor and his wife. They are soon drawn into the clutches of these two. Elizabeth Taylor, with weight packed on to do the role, and Richard Burton, two cinema icons, strut their stuff, leading the poor souls who have wandered into the web with tales and sparks and deception. Dennis is a mousy little thing who tries to cope, but we can see her eroding each minute she is in this hornet's nest. This is one of America's great stage plays and the movie really does it justice. Was Taylor a great actress. You bet she was. And Burton. Oh yeah!

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is a brilliant movie in all departments. The cinematography and production values are very pleasing to the eye, and Alex North's music is excellent. The dialogue is simply wonderful, both juicy and malicious, and the story is compelling, with well-observed psychological and social pointers, and intelligently constructed and paced. The film is brilliantly directed by Mike Nichols, who successfully manages to prevent the characters fall into caricature. The acting drives the movie, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton both give I feel career-best performances and exude a great chemistry. All in all, just brilliant and worth watching for the two leads. 10/10 Bethany Cox