• Review Index
  • About Me
  • Suggestions

vinnieh

~ Movie reviews and anything else that comes to mind

vinnieh

Daily Archives: May 17, 2013

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

17 Friday May 2013

Posted by vinnieh in Movie Reviews

≈ 26 Comments

Tags

1960's, Drama, Elizabeth Taylor, George Segal, Mike Nichols, Psychological Drama, Richard Burton, Sandy Dennis, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Film Title

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Director

Mike Nichols

Cast

  • Elizabeth Taylor as Martha
  • Richard Burton as George
  • George Segal as Nick
  • Sandy Dennis as Honey

One of the most emotionally fraught, honest and unremittingly uncomfortable looks at marital dysfunction ever to appear on the screen, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? still has the power to pack a punch with its acerbic dialogue and committed performances. If you’re looking for a successful translation of a famous play to the screen, then look no further than this drama.

Martha and George, a college history professor and his wife return home in the early hours of the morning. There marriage is by Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf screenshotturns loving and savagely cruel. Martha, who drinks too much and roars like a harpy constantly berates George about everything, while George is equally adept at playing these childlike games with her. Martha announces that she has invited a biology teacher and his wife over for a nightcap. It is here that all the venom within each of them begins to surface. When Nick, the handsome teacher and his meek wife Honey arrive at the house, Martha and George immediately launch into one of their many games, that eerily mirrors their troubled marriage. Soon, the young and seemingly innocent couple are drawn into this verbal war zone, and as the drinks continue to pour and as the early hours wear on, the vicious words and psychological abuse take full effect on all of them. Secrets are unearthed and grievances aired as the young couple watch the effects of a damaging marriage, while showing that there’s isn’t exactlElizabeth Taylor as Marthay on solid ground either. As an audience, you will be paralysed with shock at the violent effects of words and the volatile relationship of the central couple. But, don’t let the grim premise put you off, because if you do you will miss the talented Mike Nichols crafting a startling and full-blooded vision of marital confusion that will never be forgotten once it has been.

The use of black and white in the film exceptionally conveys the stark situations that the characters are stuck in. The editing style, mainly close-up’s and cuts to long shots help back up the verbal volleys that the feuding couple inflict on each other throughout the film. Above all, it is the acting the lingers longest in the memory. Elizabeth Taylor sheds her glamorous image to deliver an electrifying Oscar-winning performance as the monstrous and abusive Martha. But instead of creating an evil caricature, she imbues the character with a strange sort of sympathy and sadness that makes us realise the internal anger and pain that lie inside of her. Equally matching her is Richard Burton’s portrayal of the weary George, who although he tolerates Martha’s abuse, the audience comes to see that he is the one Martha, George, Honey and Nickwho has the upper hand as the games get evermore personal. Sterling support is added by George Segal and especially Oscar winner Sandy Dennis, who gives a performance full of neurotic tics that reveal her uncomfortable feelings with the situation unfolding before her eyes. The script is one of the most scathing , honest and corrosive things I think I’ve ever heard, the cast delivers the lacerating words with conviction, emotion and above all, power. One needs to remember how controversial the film was upon release, mainly because of the language used. And even though the years may have lessened some of the impact, the bruising words still have a raw and intense power that is hard to escape.

Mike Nichols delivered an auspicious debut with this film that surely ranks as one of his best, along with The Graduate. If you can handle the arguing and emotional impact of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, then I advise you to see it as it is uncomfortable and unflinching in its view of a broken marriage, but rewarding because of the excellent performances captured.

Subscribe

  • Entries (RSS)
  • Comments (RSS)

Archives

  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012

Categories

  • 007 thoughts and reviews
  • Adventures of Satrap
  • Announcements
  • Awards and Achievements
  • Birthdays and Tributes
  • Blogging Community
  • Blogging Questions
  • Creepy
  • Gif Posts
  • Humour
  • Movie and Television Trivia
  • Movie opinions and thoughts
  • Movie Reviews
  • Music reviews and opinions
  • Photography Discussion
  • Rest In Peace
  • Sport
  • Television Opinions
  • Television Reviews
  • Uncategorized

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in
May 2013
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
« Apr   Jun »

Tags

007 1940's 1950's 1960's 1970's 1980's 1990's 2000's 2010's Action Adventure Announcement Based on a true story Bernard Lee Bette Davis Birthday Blogs You Should Follow Carry On Movies Cate Blanchett Comedy Crime Desmond Llewelyn Drama Fantasy Foreign Language Film Gillian Anderson Happy Birthday Horror James Bond Judi Dench Julianne Moore Julia Roberts Liebster Award Lois Maxwell Madonna Maggie Smith Matthew Fox Meryl Streep Michelle Pfeiffer Music Musical Mystery Natalie Portman Neve Campbell Period Drama Psychological Horror Psychological Thriller Rest In Peace Romance Romantic Comedy Science Fiction Spy Supernatural Horror Thriller

Top Posts & Pages

Lyric Analysis - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Kylie Minogue: Where the Wild Roses Grow
Which Actors and Actresses Seem to Get Naked A lot on Film?
A Post for Cici
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 3
A Collection of Butts
Carry On Sergeant
Alias Season 3
Photography Discussion
7 Year Blog Anniversary
Shoot Em Up
Follow vinnieh on WordPress.com

Blog at WordPress.com.

Cancel

 
Loading Comments...
Comment
    ×
    Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
    To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy