Being There is a wonderful gentle comedy. It is one of the few comedies in which nothing outrageously funny happens, but you laugh all the way through. The same can be said for Chance the Gardner, or Chauncey Gardiner as he comes to be preferred. If there is ever a case of the worst snubbing of Academy Awards for any actor then it is for Peter Sellers in Being There. Awards have been given for performances with less vitality, and Sellers gentle interpretation of the central character lay the blueprints for the likes of Dustin Hoffman in Rainman, or Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump. Both these actors won Oscars and Sellers was snubbed. His performance is less exaggerated than both Hoffmans or Hanks's but no less enjoyable, and for what is quite a restrained character for Sellers usual belly laugh characters, i was on the edge my seat throughout.
The fact that nothing is really revealed about Chances background lends a touch of the mysterious to the character, there is something that is just a fraction untouchable about the character, and Sellers performance. I for one am convinced that Chance is actually Timeless, perhaps even not of this world, much like Stan Laurel, whom Sellers performance echoes. Whoever Chance is, Sellers really can walk on water. Shirley McClaine is fantastic as the boozy wife of Melvyn Douglas. McClaine brings a sense that even though hers and Sellers characters are a million light years away in intelligance, in spirit they are soul mates. Melvyn Douglas's performance is heart breaking, and well worth the Academy Award he won for the role. Hal Ashby handles the direction with a stilted calmness, but the movie comes across as being somewhere between a Laurel and Hardy movie and Its A Wonderful Life. In truth, watching Being There is similar to seeing a firework display going off through thick snow.
What really lets the movie down is the inclusion of out-takes played over the end credits. These are a nasty way of seeing Chance come to life and almost dispel your memory of Chance. If it was another Actor other than Sellers in the role it would have killed the character for sure.
Getting There is half the fun. Being there is ALL of it.
The fact that nothing is really revealed about Chances background lends a touch of the mysterious to the character, there is something that is just a fraction untouchable about the character, and Sellers performance. I for one am convinced that Chance is actually Timeless, perhaps even not of this world, much like Stan Laurel, whom Sellers performance echoes. Whoever Chance is, Sellers really can walk on water. Shirley McClaine is fantastic as the boozy wife of Melvyn Douglas. McClaine brings a sense that even though hers and Sellers characters are a million light years away in intelligance, in spirit they are soul mates. Melvyn Douglas's performance is heart breaking, and well worth the Academy Award he won for the role. Hal Ashby handles the direction with a stilted calmness, but the movie comes across as being somewhere between a Laurel and Hardy movie and Its A Wonderful Life. In truth, watching Being There is similar to seeing a firework display going off through thick snow.
What really lets the movie down is the inclusion of out-takes played over the end credits. These are a nasty way of seeing Chance come to life and almost dispel your memory of Chance. If it was another Actor other than Sellers in the role it would have killed the character for sure.
Getting There is half the fun. Being there is ALL of it.