Being There
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Movie Reviews of Being There
Movie Review: A thinking man's Forrest Gump
Summary: 5 Stars
Being There is the story of Chance (Peter Sellers), a slightly retarded man who has been gardener all his life, and is only interested in television. When the house owner dies, Chance is forced to go out in the real world. One freak accident involving a television later, he enters the life of the Rand family. His dress and demeanour makes everyone believe him a patron of industry, and soon his mundane and rote gardening pronouncements are revered as profound statements. Being There is the story of a cypher who becomes popular because he appears to be powerful, and not despite but rather because of his pronouncements (such as "I like to watch TV", perhaps the most wildly interpreted of Chance's statement in the entire movie). As such, it is mostly reactive : everyone bounces on Chance, his appearance and his pronouncements.
There are many scenes to talk about : although it rarely deviates from its main theme (the wish-fulfillment of people who interpret banalities as profound, both politically and socially), this movie is very interesting philosophically. For instance, Also Sprach Zarathustra with modern rythms superimposed on it plays throughout Chance's first forays in the "real world". Chance tries to "turn off" a gang member with his remote control, or enters a car for the first time. But the story doesn't dwell too much on Chance's inexperience : he doesn't know how things are supposed to feel, but he does know things from television.
Being There is suppored by Peter Sellers' performance. It's not a hard role, but he plays it perfectly. The movie is about interpretation of the mundane and the limits of semantics, about our limited views of the world, and has often been interpreted as a shot against politics and "a thinking man's Forrest Gump".
Interestingly, one review I read compared Chance to the Buddha - he certainly sees the world through "new eyes", and is perfectly at peace with himself. He is incapable of thinking far beyond what he can perceive, like most people, but that is due to his retardation, not his will - in that sense at least he has an excuse ! Indeed, it seems a strong analogy between Chance and the people around you can be drawn as well, and that is because Chance's retardation is shown clearly enough that it can withstand very interesting analogies. Should we consider mindlessness as a mental problem ?
The story doesn't make everything tidy (for one thing, it doesn't clearly explains Chance's early life or his mental problem), and in that respect it provokes reflection in more than one aspect. Movies shouldn't explain everything or tie loose ends : that's boring. Being There is not only intellectually satisfying and interesting, but it's also not boring.
Chance : "In a garden, growth has its season... as long as the roots are not severed, all is well, and all will be well in the garden."
Movie Review: Beautiful and Thoughtful
Summary: 5 Stars
BEING THERE is a wonderful film; simple, quiet, and extremely though provoking. One of Peter Sellers' final and, perhaps, best performance, the role of Chance the gardener is a huge departure from the typical, over-the-top, slapstick comedic roles for which he is so well known and loved. An amazing mixture of political satire, social commentary, and Biblical metaphor, BEING THERE is strangely prophetic and very relevant to our own current political drama.
In BEING THERE, we meet Chance the Gardener (Peter Sellers), a mentally handicapped man who has learned everything he knows from TV and has had no other interaction with the outside world. Chance appears to have been born in the garden, and has never been outsides its walls. When his employer, the Old Man, dies, Chance is thrown into the real world. Chance's initial interactions with the outside world are very innocent, simplistic, and very literal. When the wife (Shirley MacLaine) of a wealthy power broker (Melvyn Douglas) accidently hits Chance with her car, he finds himself hanging out with the rich and famous. To Chance, these are just people, people whose kindnesses and words he takes at face value. Yet these people believe that Chance is great man and a great scholar; they believe that his simple observations about plants are rich metaphors for life, business, and politics. Chance becomes a valued and well known advisor to the rich and famous, to the country, and to the world.
While Peter Sellers is always fun, in BEING THERE the humor is more muted and subtle. BEING THERE is a successful mockery of political conceit and the effects of seeing what you want to see. The character of Chance is a mirror; the people who go to him for advice see what they want to see - what they NEED to see - whether the subject is political, business, or just plain life. To me, BEING THERE is a new, updated version of the old fable The Emperor's New Clothes.
Peter Sellers is outstanding in this, his penultimate role. His performance is subtle, calm, and nuanced to near perfection. He makes you want to laugh, to cry, and to just plain hope. Shirley MacLaine as a woman looking for love and Melvyn Douglas as her dying, powerful husband are both superb. In fact the entire cast does a marvelous job.
As previously stated, BEING THERE is thoughtful, understated film, brilliant in its simplicity. The finale of the film is a subject of much debate, but like Chance, himself, I think the ending is what you want it to be. However, if you take the metaphors of the Old Man, the Garden, etc, to their natural conclusion, the meaning of the ending is quite clear. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Movie Review: The allegorical gardener
Summary: 5 Stars
I can see why some people don't like this movie. If the themes don't resonate with you, it's not really strong enough as a story; and, of course, if your comedic horizons end at 'Jackass', you'll find it awfully slow. Personally, I think it's a great movie and Peter Sellers should have won the Oscar for it- the Academy gave the award to Dustin Hoffman for one of his more pedestrian performances, presumably because he had been nominated and lost 3 times previously.
I won't repeat the plotline, it's been dealt with extensively already. One of the strengths of the movie is that it means different things to different people. Here's what it means to me. I see Chance the gardener, aka Chauncey Gardner, as representing life. The film shows how other people perceive him and, sure enough, he is what each person perceives him to be. He's wise, he's philosophical, he's a great lover, he's down to earth, he's politically astute, he's underhanded, he's ambitious...... in reality, he's none of these things. He's a blank canvas on which others paint their pictures- and what they see is different in every case. Only one person sees him as he is, and sensibly keeps quiet about it. The message is that life is how it appears to you- and most people see what they want to see.
Chance is also an individual experiencing life, and in this capacity life becomes what you make of it. Chance, in his state of innocence, doesn't have any preconceptions about his limitations. He simply does what he wants to do or is asked to do. When he's asked questions, he answers in the only way he knows how without wondering what others will think of his answers. When he wants something, he asks for it. Nothing intimidates or scares him. When he's asked to appear on a talk show or to advise the President, he isn't afraid that he will make a fool of himself. In the final, consummate act of innocence, he walks out on the water, simply because he doesn't know he can't. Chance shows what life could be if we were unbounded by convention or fear, things that constrain most of us and limit what we achieve.
The film's messages are brilliantly realized by Hal Ashby, and make this movie one of the few (A Room With A View would be another) which outshine the book from which they are derived. He draws a wonderful performance from Sellers, who is completely convincing as the man/child, and excellent performances from the great supporting cast. If you want belly laughs, the only scene in this movie you'll enjoy is the one with Shirley MacLaine pleasing herself. If you want thoughtful, subtle comedy with a message, try Being There. And don't forget to watch the final credits.
Movie Review: Thought provoking, humorous and brilliantly acted
Summary: 5 Stars
Being There, as noted ealier based on the short but brilliant book by Jerzy Kozinski, offers a delightful slice of life based on a chain of preposterous but humorous events.
The story is based on a mildly retarded man, and live-in house gardner (Chance) who's understanding and concept of life originates from watching tv. From the time he was taken in as a very young boy till the time he's forced to leave his surroundings when his benefactor dies, he never has interaction with anyone outside of his walled home as he's not allowed to leave. Though a little slow at the begining for some, the real fun & adveture into how people think and act begins when Chance has to fends for himself. By chance (no pun intended), our hero gets lightly hit by the limosine of the wife of the wealthiest and most influential man in America. He's taken in and cared for at the home of this man (played by Melvin Douglas in an Oscar winning role for best supporting actor). Chance hasn't much to say (remember, he's never gone to school and only likes to watch tv). However, he's an astute observer and listener, and when he responds with a smile and nod of his head and utters "I understand" to his conversation partner, who might be the American President, the Soviet Ambassador or a tv host, people think he's a genius. Preposterous? Try listening closely to the next person you talk to, nod and say "I understand" and watch them thank you for really understand them and knowing how they feel. As a musician, I really appreciate the score by Johnny Mandel (who wrote "The Shadow of your Smile" that Sinatra made famous and also the theme to MASH). It's a dark and comedic score puctuated with some Erik Satie pieces mixed in) that perfectly complements the movie.
The acting of Peter Sellars, Shirley McClain & Melvin Douglas is so perfect both as individuals and as an esemble. Melvin Douglas won nod for Best supporting actor and Peter Sellars (Best Actor) and Shirley McClain (Best Actress) were nominated but did not win (a big slight I think considering Sellars brilliant, subtle and unique performance). As someone else suggested, make sure to watch through the end credits to see a few outtakes that are a surprise).
A few notable facts; Peter Sellars was dying of stomach cancer when he made this movie (he died a year later). The house belonging to Benjamin Rand is the Biltmore House in Asheville, NC. By all means, please rent or buy this movie and enjoy it! Like a rare wine or cigar, this movie is meant to be savored and seen on those special days.
Movie Review: Absolutely Loved Upon 1st Viewing & Every Viewing Since
Summary: 5 Stars
I am astonished to read here at Amazon that there are people who do not like this film. They sure were not in any of the audiences I was with, as everyone with me was absolutely broken up laughing. So many of the people involved in "Being There" have been dead for awhile, including Peter Sellers, the star, Melvyn Douglas, the costar, Hal Ashby, the director, and I believe the writer as well. For every single one of these people, "Being There" stands as one of their final works and also their best. But the key was Peter Sellers, who was wildly uneven in his total body of work but 100% "on" for this movie. That he had to play it straight for virtually the entire movie too is further credit to his ample comedic talents. Outtakes shown at film's end include his breaking into laughter while delivering some of his memorable lines, which ruined those takes. So even he wasn't immune from the comedy of his character, Chauncy Gardener. The reality of casting though was that there wasn't anyone but Sellers capable of playing this role whereas the other roles could have been cast with others. Chauncy Gardener takes his name from his sole occupation during life, tending a garden in a Washington DC home for a man who sheltered him all of his life because he was mentally slow or "challenged," in the vernacular of today. When his guardian dies, Chauncy "Chance," takes to the streets of DC and ends up in the hands of Douglas and his wife (Shirely McLaine), who are key players in the Washington DC political scene. Douglas adores Chauncy and takes all of his statements about his gardening as political statements and soon has all of Washington, including right up to the President himself, listening to Chauncy's advice. The President is hilariously played by Jack Ward. McLaine's character meanwhile is busy falling in love with Chauncy, putting all sorts of sexual innuendo implications into his lengthy silences while he is watching tv. He is literally addicted to tv whereas she interprets his addiction as his being "hard to get" and the "strong, silent" type. This acts on her libido like a Spanish fly. (I can't imagine that there is a woman alive who can't relate to her reading too much into him.) At one point in the film, Chauncy gets to literally walk on water. Since he's pulled off everything but that prior to his doing so, it now seems natural that he can walk on water too! Take it from me: If you miss this film, it is your loss.