Rating: 
Summary: CULT MOVIES 33
Review: 33. BRIMSTONE AND TREACLE (thriller-drama, 1982) Martin (Sting) befriends middle-aged bookkeeper Tom (Denholm Elliott). Martin cons his way into his house by passing himself as his daughter's, Patricia (Suzana Hamilton), ex-boyfriend. Patricia has been left a mute and bedridden for 3 years after a car accident. Tom's wife Nora (Joan Plowright) is very religious and Martin's 'gospely' kindness and loyalty to Patricia impress her. Though Tom is suspicious of Martin's exact motives he nonetheless stays to take care of Patricia. What they don't know is that Martin is sexually abusing their defenseless daughter.Critique: Part fairy tale, part religious parable, this creepy, atmospheric film is highlighted by a wickedly perverse turn by Sting (lead singer of rock group 'The Police'). What makes his character such a bizarre figure is that his motives are unknown, his appetites unresolved. I think Martin is just a thief, passing himself as anyone's friend just to have a place to stay. A sort of pickpocket. He's also a sexual deviant who doesn't mind how he gets it, either from an invalid or an old woman. The film portrays him as an avenging angel-type brought into Tom's household to uncover some truths. Interesting direction by Richard Loncraine (is this his film debut?) who works from a play adapted by Dennis Potter (who's own sexually dubious works are to be questioned). 'The Police', along with 'The Go-Gos' provided the music.
Rating: 
Summary: The enigma of a distasteful tale.
Review: Dennis Potter is for many the most challenging and thought proving dramatist of our generation. Brimstone and Treacle does not quite reach the heady hights of "Pennies from Heaven" or the "Singing Detective" in terms of its dramatic invention but possibly exceeds them in its power to challenge thoughts surrounding conventional morality. Who is the villain in this piece? Is it the Sting character preying pervertedly upon an innocent, or is it the father whose infidelity triggered off the whole chain of events in the first instance. The intervention of the "pervert" releases the heroine from her coma, liberates the mother from a life of drudgery and exposes the father as an adulterer. In reality no harm is done to the girl. Is therefore Sting a Devil or an Angel, does harm sometimes need to be done to create good? The film improves enormously on the TV play with brilliant casting, an evocotive atmosphere and excellent music. Sting was perfectly cast. Watch it and start to think! It is criminal that this video is not available in Britain although it does appear on TV very occasionally.
Rating:
Summary: The enigma of a distasteful tale.
Review: Dennis Potter is for many the most challenging and thought proving dramatist of our generation. Brimstone and Treacle does not quite reach the heady hights of "Pennies from Heaven" or the "Singing Detective" in terms of its dramatic invention but possibly exceeds them in its power to challenge thoughts surrounding conventional morality. Who is the villain in this piece? Is it the Sting character preying pervertedly upon an innocent, or is it the father whose infidelity triggered off the whole chain of events in the first instance. The intervention of the "pervert" releases the heroine from her coma, liberates the mother from a life of drudgery and exposes the father as an adulterer. In reality no harm is done to the girl. Is therefore Sting a Devil or an Angel, does harm sometimes need to be done to create good? The film improves enormously on the TV play with brilliant casting, an evocotive atmosphere and excellent music. Sting was perfectly cast. Watch it and start to think! It is criminal that this video is not available in Britain although it does appear on TV very occasionally.
Rating:
Summary: The enigma of a distasteful tale.
Review: Dennis Potter is for many the most challenging and thought proving dramatist of our generation. Brimstone and Treacle does not quite reach the heady hights of Pennies from Heaven or the Singing Detective in terms of its invention but possibly exceeds them in its power to challenge thoughts around conventional morality. Who is the villain in this piece? Is it the Sting character preying pervertedly upon an innocent, or is it the father whose infidelity triggered off the whole chain of events in the first instance. The intervention of the "pervert" releases the heroine from her coma, liberates the mother from her drudgery and exposes the father. In reality no harm is done to the girl. Is therefore Sting a Devil or an Angel, does harm sometimes need to be done to create good? The film improves enormously on the TV play with brilliant casting, an evocotive atmosphere and excellent music. Sting was perfectly cast. Watch it and start to think!
Rating:
Summary: Even if you don't like Sting
Review: I love this movie, but I am also a Sting fan (Sting from the Police not Sting the dirty hippie). I had a hard time getting people to watch this movie, because Sting was in it, but he is very good. The story is creepy and the characters are believable. In the beginning it is hard to put your finger on who is the token good character and who is the token bad guy, but that just keeps you interested. So if you like feeling uncomfortable and if you like yelling comments of disapproval and suggestions at the screen, I say buy this video.
Rating:
Summary: Black comedy with a bittersweet name
Review: I saw this film shortly after Dennis Potter passed away. Made in 1982, the story is about a sinister young man called Martin Taylor (played perfectly by Sting), who uses charm and flattery to move in on an unsuspecting family. Denholm Elliott is a tormented father torn between guilt and anger over his daughter (Suzanna Hamilton), who has been left a helpless invalid since she was hit by a truck four years ago. Joan Plowright is a mother torn between hope and despair, always thinking that her daughter will one day recover. Martin is an enigma, full of contradictions. He is angelic and diabolical. Sweet and sour. Good and bad. Everyone's friend and no one's friend. This was a good movie with excellent performances, but I preferred the original 1976 version with Michael Kitchen. In that version you actually see Martin change into a demon and eating breath mints to hide the smell of sulphur. The 1982 version seems a bit more sordid. I'm hoping one day the 1976 version will come out on video, which would have a PG rating. The latter version really deserves an R rating.
Rating:
Summary: Fire and Brimstone...
Review: I tend to agree with the other reviews that are posted here,but I would like to make one distinction. I thought the movie had a truly unique "surprise" ending. ... Brimstone and Treacle is a great life lesson about learning to embrace adversity and taking responsability for your actions. I loved it, and I'm buying it so I can show it to my friends!
Rating:
Summary: Fire and Brimstone...
Review: I tend to agree with the other reviews that are posted here,but I would like to make one distinction. I thought the movie had a truly unique "surprise" ending. ... Brimstone and Treacle is a great life lesson about learning to embrace adversity and taking responsability for your actions. I loved it, and I'm buying it so I can show it to my friends!
Rating:
Summary: "You are an extremely salacious and corrupt Jezebel."
Review: In the film "Brimstone and Treacle," Tom Bates (Denholm Elliot) owns a small evangelical publishing business. On the way home from work one evening, a rather strange young man literally crashes into him and proceeds to claim a prior acquaintance. Tom Bates manages to ditch the stranger, but the young man--whose name is Martin Taylor (Sting)--shows up at the beautiful, but remote, country home where Tom lives. Martin ostensibly wants to return Tom's wallet, but he fabricates excuses for staying. Martin claims a previous relationship with the daughter, Patricia, who is now basically a mental vegetable following a nasty accident 4 years previously. Martin very craftily discovers and gauges the domestic discord between Mr and Mrs Bates, and he capitalizes on this--weaseling his way in and ingratiating himself with Mrs Bates (Joan Plowright) or "mumsy" as he calls her. Tom is extremely suspicious, but he is treading on very sticky moral ground, and Norma Bates is too relieved to find someone to assist with Patricia's caretaking to ask questions. She is too naive to contemplate the nasty alternative, and she considers Martin "just what she needs." Is Martin an angel sent to help Patricia, or is he a demon? That is for the viewer to decide. Supernatural elements abound in this film, and the eerie atmosphere is consistent throughout. The cast is small, and the script is tight. Denholm Elliot is believeable as the slightly neurotic Tom who insists his daughter has left her human body and just the shell remains. He exists on a tightrope of lost faith, repressed sexuality and guilt. Joan Plowright as Norma Bates plays the long-suffering wife--somewhat out-of-touch with reality--whose religious faith gets her through each long, tedious, and depressing day. She believes in miracles, and she hopes that one will occur. Well, be careful what you wish for.... Keep an eye open for Sting's cross-dressing scene. If you are a fan of the Police, they play throughout the film, and the soundtrack to the film is available. This is an unusual tale--some may find it offensive and/or profane, and there is some female nudity....
Rating: 
Summary: WEIRDLY DISTURBING
Review: Once banned on the BBC, BRIMSTONE AND TREACLE (MGM) stars Sting as Martin Taylor, a charismatic, mysterious figure who insinuates himself into the household of the Bates. Tom Bates (Denholm Elliot) writes religious literature, his wife Norma (Joan Plowright) spends her time caring for their disabled, mute, daughter. Martin doesn't know the family, but convinces the Bates that he's an old friend of their daughter and moves in to do his thing. Is Martin a demon or an angel? See what happens when the daughter recovers her speech.
|
