Stream it now Prick Up Your Ears 1987

 

VHS First Viewing, 5 Frears films seen

i am the cheese

Director: Stephen Frears
Starring: Alfred Molina, Gary Oldman, Vanessa Redgrave

4 stars out of 4

Alfred Molina gives a stunning performance in this amazing -dare I say it- "bio-pic" of British playwright Joe Orton. The film follows the exploits of the writer (Oldman), and his "personal assistant" (Molina), who begrudgingly supports Orton despite years of his own work being overlooked. The promiscuous duo live in a time when homosexuality is considered reason enough for conviction, and defiantly carry on their affair and their participation in the "criminal" homosexual underworld of the time. Following Orton's bursting success as a writer, jealousy and resentment grow, and ultimately pinnacle into a harrowing end.




Another note: Tonight I tried to watch the unfortunate unrated version of The 40-Year Old Virgin. It was bloody awful. I don't recall the theatrical release being nearly this bad, but on second thought, perhaps it was.

"Revengers Tragedy" is a movie based on the 17th century play by Thomas Middleton. In this version, it is updated to Liverpool in the near future where Vendici(Christopher Eccleston) is returning after a period of absence. He is back to swear vengeance against The Duke(Derek Jacobi, who does not have a lot to do), after he killed Vendici's bride in retaliation for her not wanting to have sex with him.(A good deal of this movie is taken up with men defending the honor of women. I can understand this happening in the 17th century but it's not likely for the present or anytime in the near future.) Other faults include the movie missing chances to have anything to say about 1) the nature of revenge and 2) the class structure.(The Duke is evil but Lord Antonio seems like a pretty alright guy.) But it is imaginatively staged with computer effects and is well acted especially by Christopher Eccleston and Eddie Izzard.

"Prick Up Your Ears" is based on the lives and tempestual relationship of playwright Joe Orton(Gary Oldman) and Kenneth Halliwell(Alfred Molina). Orton's role in life seemed to be wreaking playful havoc in the straitlaced society of 50's and 60's Britain, from defacing library books to anonymous sex in lavatories. The movie is witty and engaging. It gives great insight into the characters and their love for each other. Both Oldman and Molina do a great job. And it's a joy watching Wallace Shawn and Vanessa Redgrave act together.

(Very strange literary note: Alfred Molina invokes T.S. Eliot in "Prick Up Your Ears." He would do so again in "Spider Man 2.")

This isn't my type of movie, but nevertheless, its a good movie filled with witty humor and several other entertaining qualities. The performances are absolutely brilliant. The subject matter was difficult to watch at times, difficult for me atleast. The film revolved around the homosexual Joe Orton and his eventual murder, by his lover. It's hard for me to look at either actors in the same vein as of now, because some of the scenes they really passionately make love, but that just goes to show how great their performances were.


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