The Elephant Man

This Lynch picture tells us a lot about people. And it’s not all nice. In terms of film craftsmanship, this is precise work where the director doesn’t stray for an instant from the planned storyline and achieves absolutely engrossing atmospheres by working with light and the camera. The acting performances, primarily the hypnotized Anthony Hopkins, just go to underpin the perfection of this biographic drama. (01/10/2011)

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. (07/01/2006)

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%. (04/04/2014)

A humanistic journey into the soul of a man who looks like a monster but is beautiful on the inside, The Elephant Man features masterful work with the camera and lighting, as well as extraordinary acting performances. The director’s take on his subject matter is so sensitive that it seems as if he has fallen to his knees before it. A filmmaking event with one of the most beautiful endings ever seen on the screen. (16/02/2009)

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. (25/02/2014)