Directed by:
Hal AshbyCinematography:
Caleb DeschanelComposer:
Johnny MandelCast:
Peter Sellers, Shirley MacLaine, Melvyn Douglas, Jack Warden, Richard Dysart, Richard Basehart, David Clennon, Fran Brill, Sam Weisman, Fredric Lehne (more)VOD (3)
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Based on Jerzy Kosinski's satirical novel about an illiterate gardener who has lived his entire life behind the walls of a Washington, D.C., house, his only knowledge of the world coming from the TV programs he watches. When his employer and protector dies, he is catapulted into the fast lane of political power. (official distributor synopsis)
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Reviews (7)
Traditionally precise Ashby. Anyone who enjoys the development of political satire and very biting allusions to the powerful social elite of the memorable 1970s should not miss this unassuming film, a direct predecessor of Forrest Gump. Not only does it offer another amazing performance by the great Peter Sellers, but above all it is at least as timeless in its ideas as the equally old Alien is from a visual perspective. Firstly, there is a clear reference to the overwhelming and false influence of television, which since time immemorial has been adapting everything to its own needs – when Chance emerges from his house for the first time in his old age, equipped only to watch "the box" every day, he feels like he is in an alien world full of strange, fast-talking creatures (and it’s surely no coincidence that a modified version of “Also Sprach Zarathustra”, an anthem for an unknown and vast universe, is playing). And then there is the crushing charge on the heads of the political and media bigwigs who take deadly seriously the dreamy words of a mentally retarded and emotionally cold gardener who gets the opportunity to speak only by sheer chance. And I ate it all up from Ashby’s hand, because once again he managed to wrap the story in such a novel, funny and incredibly ironic form that I felt like I was in a beautiful, relaxed fairy tale free of any external influence. Nobody makes stuff like this anymore. 90%
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"Life is a state of mind." I never doubted that Peter Sellers was an excellent actor. Now that I've finally seen Being There, I'm tempted to praise it even more... except that it's hard to. Its precise performance, where every word, every look, every innocent smile, every inhale and exhale fascinates. There is simply no way to describe something like that. It's been a long, long, long time since I've seen such a sensational film that I wanted to watch again right after the end credits (or rather before the end credits, because they're really stupid due to the spoiled scene that was used).
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The embodiment of assertiveness hand in hand with a well-aimed and darn funny satire that mainly the Greens (or all political parties, for that matter) could learn a lot from. The way that Ashby handles scenes that would have come across just embarrassing with anybody else (and not only the scenes with sexual undertones) is certainly admirable, but this is in no way a surprising or unique performance from him. I wanted to praise Sellers’ performance to the heavens with that already rather worn expression “performance of a lifetime", but then I remembered all his roles up until then, and it would be unfair to them. But then I remember how minimalistic and animated his performance of the role was, a role that 99.999 percent of the current stock of actors would have over-acted (hi there, Sean Penn) or turned into some lamentable creature (hi there, um, again Sean Penn, closely followed by Tom Hanks) - sorry, I simply had to get that below-the-belt comment in somehow. And this IS Sellers’ performance of a lifetime. P.S.: And, by the way, I like both Sean Penn and Tom Hanks.
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Films with mentally handicapped people usually irritate me, but Mr Gardener is mentally handicapped in such a… cute way. A character brilliantly portrayed by Peter Sellers and a superb film. The many funny misunderstandings reminded me when analyses of artworks find something where the creator didn’t put anything. From now on, whenever I read one such analysis, I will remember this film with a smile. Yeah, and I’m not sure whether I understood the last scene correctly, if so, it’s brilliant and brilliantly bold.
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Anyone expecting the same style of humor that Peter Sellers became famous for in the Pink Panther series will be disappointed with Being There. This is a completely different style and league. Along with the film Dr. Strangelove, it features one of Peter Sellers' most significant performances, reaffirming his position among the acting elite. With a very good screenplay and economical acting that relies on subtle changes in tone of voice, this understated but highly intelligent satire reveals the workings of high politics. Those who watch this film will understand the true meaning of the word "sarcasm." Overall impression: 90%.
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