The Elephant Man

Rating:
Summary: Powerful and memorable, nightmarish, glimpses of hope
Review: John Hurt portrays John Merrick, a severely deformed man nicknamed "The Elephant Man" because his face was so deformed that he barely looked human anymore. Merrick ends up in a circus freak-show, but is rescued by a caring physician, played in a quietly powerful manner by Anthony Hopkins. Merrick then, briefly, becomes the latest novelty for the social elite, but this is just a variation of his freak-show years. What Merrick wanted, without ever having had it, was normalcy. Anthony Hopkins tries to help, but the obstacles to being simply a human being are legion.


The film is shot in Black-and-White or, more apty, shades of gray, light and shadow. David Lynch's film slides from nightmare to dream and back to nightmare. Will Merrick ever attain simple humanity? Will anyone ever be able to see beyond what he looks like, including Merrick? Can he ever be free, and simply live? The movie is not entirely bleak, as Merrick is able to grasp moments of dignity, and people occasionally glimpse what he would have been if he had not been facially deformed.


I'm glad that I saw this film, which was made superbly well, but I would not want to watch it twice.

Rating:
Summary: The best film of 1980.
Review: For years i have been watching this movie on the old paramount fullscreen vhs. The image was cropped, dark and very grainy. I always assumed that was how the film should look since it looked no different than the cover art. Now that I have seen this dvd I view the film in a very different way.

The image on this dvd is beautiful. It is expanded to it's original theatrical aspect ratio, and the sound has never been more clear.

The Elephant Man tells the truly powerful story of John Merrick, played brilliantly by John Hurt. Horribly deformed, John Merrick is discovered by Dr. Treeves in a freakshow. His caretaker is an overbearing man who will never let his "Treasure" go. After Dr. Treeves convinces his caretaker to bring John to the hospital to give him medical attention, Dr. treeves realizes the remarkable find he has in his care, he tells the caretaker off and begins to care for John Merrick himself.

What follows is one of the handful of truly great stories of the search for acceptance, and the power of the human spirit. The film is not without it's flaws, mainly the sometimes questionable makeup on the title character. Despite the few flaws this is one of the most well acted, well directed, and all around best film of 1980, and one of the best films of that entire decade. Overall Rating:A-


Rating:
Summary: Unforgettable film
Review: Based on the true story of the "elephant man" and shot in black and white, this is an unforgettable film. While the plight of John Merrick is in itself fascinating, David Lynch's cinematic artistry brings a well-balanced storytelling that's neither over-dramatic nor phony. The black and white production is a little difficult on the eyes sometimes, and a few scenes drag on for too long, but the film is engaging. My only other gripe is Hopkins's so-so performance as the doctor.

This is a film no movie lover should miss.

Rating:
Summary: As respectful as a film can get. Simple as that.
Review: It's hard to know how much is to be credited to Hurt's acting, and how much to Tucker and co.'s make-up. Either way, it's the best acting/make-up combination I've seen (to my memory,there may be others). Hurt's expressions had to be impeccable to penetrate the heavy-duty make-up, and the make-up had to be impeccable to allow the actor's expressions to actually come across on film.
The suspense build-up to the revealing the full extent of Elephant Man's deformity, is brilliant. Some films are anti-climactic, and others drag the suspense card out so long that you just don't care anymore. This one? Perfection! The actor involved in the revealing scene was nothing short of utterly convincing. And the drama surrounding the circumstance that allowed for that unfortunate incident, was written and acted with depth and class.
The only point that could have any possibility of preventing my 5*ing this film, is that it doesn't provide insight into how Elephant Man achieves his well-adjustedness to his circumstances. I'd like there to have been at least one scene addressing the source of his strength. But, it is still touching, the courage of his coping and grace.
Hopkins is revered for his role as Hannibal Lector in Silence of the Lambs. And fairly so. But his role in this is my favourite. His representation of this man of compassion and dedication, is powerful. The spirit of helping someone without need of reason, is embodied perfectly. As is the character's self-doubt as to his own motives. And the writers deserve their due for this. The writing is as good as film-writing gets.The directing is so smooth and on the spot with everything. The directing drags the full effect from every scene that could be salvaged. The hostility and exploitive opportunism is excellently portrayed by the actors filling the roles. The incidental actors responding to Elephant Man in all the many different ways, fulfill their roles with equal prowess to the main actors.
Due to a mass quick-thrill neccessity in society, this is not a movie that jumps out as a great film of all time. It has brilliance that requires an audience member to be inward searching and morally aware.

Rating:
Summary: a hypnotic exercise in the depths of human compassion
Review: "The Elephant Man", with John Hurt and Anthony Hopkins (along with Hannibal Lecter his best piece of acting) is a powerhouse of a film that makes you feel fortunate and unfortunate at the same time--fortunate that you yourself can walk in the street without provoking screams, and unfortunate that you live in a world where a person's physical appearance will cause screams.

Dr. Frederick Treves (Hopkins), a doctor and a devotee of the deformed and the lost, somehow gets wind of a carnival sideshow with a "freak" who is actually authentic--"the elephant man", a hideously deformed young person whose physical appearance is so horrendous that no one seems to mind as he is abused by his sketchy master (something strange and homoerotic is ever present in this drunken brute's relentless determination to "own" Hurt's character), starved, and kept in a sideshow until Treves comes along and emancipates him.

At first we believe that Merrick is mentally handicapped, as all he can do to communicate with Treves is grunt and groan in fright. It turns out, however, (and this is never explained at any length) that Merrick is extremely intelligent and very religious. Through all the heavily layered and almost suffocating makeup Hurt brings home a characterization that is as unforgettable as it is haunting. Merrick is a lonely, abused soul fully cognizant of his place in the world. A side of him seems to believe he is an animal deserving of abuse, while the other side is an astute literary gentleman who wants, in his own somewhat garbled words, only to "be good".

There are scenes in this movie that will make you absolutely furious and scenes that are worthy of tears. Others will make you happy as you see Merrick go from having a wretched, worthless life to an actually happy and full existence courtesy of Treves. The relationship between Treves and Merricks is, beyond doubt, one of the most believable and heart-rending bonds between two men ever filmed.

The weaknesses are negligible and we can put most of them down to Lynch's unrelenting need to inject the depressing and strange where they have no place. The ending, for example, while touching, is inexcusably vague for a film which has commanded that much power up till that point. Did Merrick commit suicide? Are we supposed to be seeing him ascend to heaven? Whatever, this is still one of the greatest films of the century.

Rating:
Summary: A Masterpiece....
Review: Once in a lifetime a movie comes along that is capable of being more than just a movie. This is such a film. This movie changed my life. As a kid I was pushed down the stairs, beat up and made fun of everyday at school. I used to prey for massive snowstorms so I would get some relief. Even now when I have the blues I put this movie on. After viewing, nothing in my life seems so bad. John Merrick had it bad. This film shows the cruelity of the world, and shows what a little love and kindness can do. Beautifuly filmed in glorious black-and-white, it uses camera angles and shadows like no other film I've seen. David Lynch's direction is both emotional and frightning. He shows the horrors of the world but not for shock value. It teaches us all a lesson that even what seems to be monsterous is still human and worth love and affection. In some twisted way this is a love story. For love does conquer all...

Not my favorite movie, but in my top ten. It certainly the best acted and directed movie I have ever seen. Suprisingly uplifting for such a dark and grim premise.

Rating:
Summary: Lynch's Best
Review: This is the first time it's ever been released in its original, classically framed, gorgeously black-and-white filmed, Panavision widescreen format. Aside from that, it is one of the best films ever. You are a true MONSTER if this film does not move you to tears. This one reaches DEEP into one's heart, and asks - demands, really - you to empathize with another's person's tortured soul. THIS is Anthony Hopkins finest performance EVER. When you watch a film as emotionally involving, you come away feeling grateful to be healthy, lucky even. This is a true testament to the psychology of cruelty, how ingrained it is. From the night watchman to the kids in the train station: man's unkindness, disrespect, and cruelty to one another is something people will always have to struggle against. Credit to Freddie Francis also for a superb envisioning of Olde Industrial London.

Rating:
Summary: If this movie does not move you, then somethings wrong!
Review: This is probably one of the more sad movies I have ever seen. I know a movie is good when I can see it more than once and still be moved. The acting is great, Hurt is totally convincing as Joseph Merrick.(Called John Merrick in the movie). The fact that this movie did not win any Oscars is mind boggling, but what do you expect from the Hollywood elite. They could not allow a new director (Lynch) to get any sort of recognition. Best picture that year went to Ordinary People...??????????? Though the story has been changed a bit, Lynch does a very good job of showing how horrible Merrick's life was. Horrible, yet amazing when you think about the way he has touched so many of us. It is extremely moving watching Merrick react to humane treatment, friendship and love with tears and overwhelming joy. To think a ladies smile and politeness would bring a tear to Merrick's eye is very telling and it give the viewer and idea of how hard his life must of been.

Rating:
Summary: The most powerful and artistic work Lynch!
Review: David Lynch has signed his masterpiece in the story of the cinema with this splendid and towering movie .
A sad and poignant film about a deformed man employed for an unscrupulous mercenary as a freak attraction , he will be rescued from this unending nightmare and he will prove the whole world that behind that uggly face it lives a human being , He is not an animal , reminds Hurt to the irrational crowd in an awful chase sequence as he was a beast .
Why did not John Hurt win all the possible prizes in the world for this titanic and unique performance ? It is just a mistery .
The film still keeps its expressive force and charm .
Bancroft and Hopkins are in the top . Superb edition , scorching direction , beautifully filmed in glorious black and white .
A timeless winner film.