The Hours and Times

Rating:
Summary: OK, sort of.
Review: (...)It's basically about the complicated relationship between Lennon and Epstein during their time alone together in Spain. Well, it's kind of boring because for one, you can't understand what they're saying because they sound like they're mumbling. Two, it wasn't really a movie. What I mean by that is that their are only like four main people thoughout the movie. The bathroom scene, there's a hint that "scene" was coming. The ending comes unexpectedly and leaves you with the most genuine annoyance ever. (Especially the previews before the movie.)

Rating:
Summary: Intriguing...
Review: Despite the description, this film is not at all sensationalistic or exploitive. It's very sensitive and arty and very in-keeping with both Lennon's and Epstein's personalities. You really feel both characters' frustration: Lennon's at being at a confusing crossroad of oncoming fame and unwanted fatherhood and Epstein's at desparately wanting someone he can never have. It's more a dual character study than anything else. Lennon was fascinating in his angry young man stage and Epstein was hopelessly, pitifully attracted to people and circumstances that could only bring him pain. Lennon was not gay (in fact by all accounts he was downright homophobic at that age) but his empathy for Epstein's plight was so strong. He was torn between his heterosexuality and wanting to ease Epstein's suffering. A relationship would have been completely impossible and they both knew it. This film was quite realistic in not tacking on some kind of would-be happy ending or any ending at all, because with this type of situation, nothing is resolved, nothing ends -- it can't be any other way. If you're a Lennon fan, you really should see this.

Rating:
Summary: A very tasteful and creative look at their relationship
Review: I am a big Lennon fan, so I just had to see this movie. I was very pleased, even though the film was a low budget, it was very well done, and the actor who played Brian was exellent for the part(he ws good at complaining) Ian Hart ws also exellent as John. It seems that nobody really knew what happened between John and Brian...other books(The Beatle Anthology) say that he said it was never that kind of relationship, but we will never know. I imagine that what happened might have been similiar to what happened in the movie. The bathroom scene left me without words, but I guess I shouldn't of been suprised, nor am I bothered by it. One thing I don't get is near the end of the movie, it shows Brian and John laying in the same bed together, naked(but semi-covered by sheets)John is asleep, and Brian strokes John's arm... All in all it was very good, and I reccomend it to any John or Brian fan who can stomach a few seconds of seeing them make out.

Rating:
Summary: bravo Christopher Munch!
Review: I am ordering a copy today as I just saw the film on Independent Filmmakers Cable TV channel and want my own copy. As a proud and gay man I was pleased with the delicate attempt to portray Lennon and Epstein in their "searching" of their true selves. Lennon is loved in my memory whether he was truly homosexual or heterosexual. It was certainly not a movie or story for homophobics. I await other films by Mr. Munch. Bravo for Mr. Munch! Sincerely, from one who likes films better than the ordinary run of the mill!

Rating:
Summary: the best of fan fic
Review: i love the concept of this film. it's classier than silly beatles fan fic because it simply is an intriuging story--beatles or not. budget shortfalls are way too visable though, and the acting isn't nearly as good as the director would like us to believe. further, the director's commentary and interview are incredibly BORING. he laughed ONCE and smiled just a few times. don't buy this...just rent it off netflix.

Rating:
Summary: It's what you would expect.
Review: It's basically what you expect but, taking in consideration what John Lennon said about the trip was that, "It was NEVER CONSUMMATED. But we did have a pretty intense relationship." That's exactly what they followed in the movie including the famous bathroom scene. So rating this I give it 4 stars for following the facts they have. But the ending was dumb.

Rating:
Summary: eavesdropping
Review: Short, sharp, and crispy imagined and photographed, "The Hours and Times" presents a casual-to-the-point-of-verite look at John Lennon, and the Beatles manager and worshiper, Brian Epstein as they spend a weekend in Spain after the detonation of Beatlemania, but before the explosion.

It's pretty common knowledge that Epstein was in love with Lennon; common knowledge also that Lennon had issues with his own sexuality and curiousity, that he was equally in awe of and disgusted by Epstein. This movie offers a hypothetical treatment of two days in their relationship.

Many people will complain that this movie moves slowly, that not a lot happens. I found that to be one of its virtues, because the performances seem (to me, anyway) to be so dead-on, and the script is so careful not to show off, that at times it does feel like we're watching documentary footage of the two famous, troubled geniuses. Unlike most movies, this film says exactly what it has to say in just about an hour... and then ends. I both admired the movie's restraint and was sorry to see it end.

So many details seem right, too: hotel lobbies and suites in Barcelona; the interior of a 727 (of which we only really see two seats); Lennon sketching in pajamas, being casually cruel to his wife, Cynthia; Epstein listening to the radio and gently crying.

One particular scene, in which John squares off against a shrewd stewardess and they resolve the drama by twisting to a new Little Richard single, contains enough truth and beauty and sadness to fill an entire, full-length movie.

If you've ever poured over a book of Beatle photographs and marveled as much at the famous faces as at the little details in the background -- Coke bottles, packs of Marlboros, rings and board games, transistor radios, suits and shirts and ties -- you really should see this movie.

Rating:
Summary: A NICELY FILMED DISAPPOINTMENT!
Review: The best parts of this movie are the opening shots of the architecture of Barcelona. I was totally disappointed with this "film". It was slow moving and utterly unfulfilling. I was very thankful that it lasted only an hour. I would have kicked myself for wasting any more time watching. Perhaps frustration was the point of the film. If so, I guess I "got it". Although "Times and Hours" is a take on what the director imagines that could have happened between Lennon and Epstein on that weekend holiday, I for one was wishing the director had imagined something else. (I actually feared this movie would tarnish my idyllic view of Lennon.) The actor who portrayed Lennon was terrible. He mumbled throughout the entire movie. The film is beautifully shot and does not fail to exude that arthouse feeling. However, one is always hoping that SOMEHTHING will happen, but one is ultimately disappointed. The bathroom scene is supposedly the climax, but the climax is short-lived and actually not very climatic at all. And what is the deal with the ending?! The movie literally ends when one leasts expects it. This movie is a waste of time, although it's only a hour long. One will be left craving a movie with proper ending not to mention an interesting middle.

Rating:
Summary: What The Heck??????????????
Review: The movie was good to an extent...I believe how ever more happened between Epstein and Lennon than the movie depicted...being a reader of all Lennon biographies...most claim the relationship was sexual...who knows when both are dead now...The actors were good and I believe both played their characters well. The ending was dumb...I re watched it several times to try to figure if there was a hidden meaning to the ending...I remeber Lennon saying to Epstein "your always so reassuring"...then he walks away and the movie ended...I asume they went on to the bullfights...Is that all???????