Directed by:
David LynchCinematography:
Freddie FrancisComposer:
John MorrisCast:
Anthony Hopkins, John Hurt, Anne Bancroft, John Gielgud, Wendy Hiller, Freddie Jones, Hannah Gordon, Michael Elphick, John Standing, Dexter Fletcher (more)VOD (3)
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Starring Anthony Hopkins and John Hurt, The Elephant Man is an extraordinary and intensely moving true story of bravery and humanity. John Merrick (John Hurt) is The Elephant Man, forced into circus sideshows and spurned by society because of the disfiguring disabilities he was born with. Rescued by a well meaning surgeon (Anthony Hopkins), he tries to escape a life of prejudice and cruelty as he tries to fit into a world ruled by Victorian sensibilities. Beautifully shot in black and white by the incomparable Freddie Francis, The Elephant Man is an unforgettable story of human dignity and survival. (StudioCanal UK)
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Reviews (9)
There are some films I seem to avoid. The Elephant Man is one of them, even though it's a film by my great favorite David Lynch. But that's the case with Kubrick as well. I still haven't seen Full Metal Jacket either. But I finally got around to watching The Elephant Man. It’s one of the few films that Lynch made on a studio commission. It's a grim film, not because of how John Merrick looks, but because his life is grim. And not because life itself is grim, but because people can be grim. Well, that's just how it is, and I guess I'll have to come to terms with it. This is a beautiful film about a man who wasn't even regarded as a human being. You can feel Lynch's own presentation in it. Not as strongly as in his auteur films, but some scenes simply have his touch. For example, right at the beginning, or other similarly dream-like sequences. I almost wonder how it would turn out if he had more freedom. Still, this is a beautiful film.
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I can't believe that this gem came from the same man who made that crap called Twin Peaks. Lynch tells a beautiful and human story in a charming and compelling way, and the camera work in particular is absolutely perfect. The public's fascination with a disfigured and severely tortured person could not have been better portrayed, and the brilliant character of the "elephant man" simply has to evoke feelings of pity and compassion, which underpin the whole atmosphere of the film. It's just a wonderful story and I don't know what else to highlight.
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David Lynch always focused on emotional manipulation with the viewer and enjoyed pulling at their heartstrings. However, betting on sentimentality was not usually part of his tried and true directing style, and The Elephant Man represents a departure from that. In this case, Lynch overwhelms the viewer with sentiment and purposely counts on the audience's sympathy toward his protagonist. Unfortunately, the story is somewhat simplistic for my taste, and Lynch's approach feels too shallow and predictable. The truths he aims to reveal are simply too obvious and do not present any dilemmas or tricky choices for me. Nonetheless, the film remains a quality work with excellent performances from the actors, especially Anthony Hopkins, who demonstrates why he has been at the top of his craft for decades, not only on the British Isles but also in world cinema. Additionally, the atmosphere of Victorian England deserves recognition. Despite all of this, I truly do not see it as deserving of four stars. After all, such a highly acclaimed film does not require my approval. Overall impression: 65%.
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Fortunately, the initial shots, displaying signs of another Lynchian mystery, quickly transformed into a school analysis on the theme of humanism. Just as the image of the film is black and white, the character distribution follows this two-color scheme - the good guys and the bad guys. Despite the fact that the film is based on true events, I can't help feeling that it's all too perfectly orchestrated. David Lynch's reliance on the emotional expressions of actors is overly conspicuous. Especially in the first half, there is absolutely nothing said, while the second half at least begins to develop some progression in the plot and build relationships. However, this does not change the overall impression that the effort to avoid being a cheap tearjerker goes in vain, mainly because the deeper idea of humanity cannot be realized in the film due to its dry script.
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The suggestive and oppressive atmosphere of a hostile city as a contrast to the soul of an internally beautiful person. David Lynch occasionally goes beyond audience discomfort in terms of human monstrosity and allows this defenseless individual to suffer too often, but in the end, it gets to me. Mainly because the closing "Adagio for Strings" is among the most melancholic scenes I have ever seen.
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Photo © Paramount Pictures
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