The Few T
I watched this movie a few years ago, and I thought the plot, along with the cinematography very engaging.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the character development, and the way in which the two protagonists ( Taylor and Burton ) found both a common ground, and a mutual respect.
I also especially enjoyed how this movie showcases the incredible beauty of Big Sur, to which I have had the very great pleasure of both visiting on numerous occasions, as well as living there for an all-too-brief period of time.
It is one of those movies that stays with you for a very long time.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
01/17/24
Full Review
Red T
It's barely ok. The main issue is the pacing isn't that good because the music is used so much in this and it isn't that good either. It's very slow, boring, elevator type music that puts you to sleep more than anything else. Everything else is just average as well. Taylor is decent and the best thing in this but Burton is just ok and comes across as wooden and only having average chemistry with Taylor honestly. The shots are well framed and the settings are nice but nothing engaging is really going on in most of the scenes besides talking and the dialogue/chemistry isn't strong enough to carry the scenes. The second half does get better when there is more conflict and everyone has a character arc by the end. The problem is just how slow and tedious it is to get there mainly by the tiring soundtrack. This has underlying commentary about society expectations put on different people and whether it is society or ourselves that put those expectations on us and when we don't let that hold us back we can be free but it gets weighed down. The other big issue is the child who the plot starts with is kind of forgotten about for most of the movie and is just ok and kind of a throwaway. It would've been nicer also to see more conflict with the other lovers and Burton/Taylor. Really also besides the soundtrack, Burton is what holds this back also from being anything noteworthy as well. He just doesn't have any chemistry with anyone, except Taylor and even than its nothing electrifying. Anyone who is a die hard fan of BOTH Taylor & Burton I could see liking this, but everyone else should skip this footnote movie.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
07/24/23
Full Review
kevin r
I see all the negative reviews, and I think there is a depth this film has that others don't recognize. First of all, I love the acting of Taylor, Burton, Saint, and also Morgan Mason who played Danny Reynolds - Laura Reynolds' 9 year old son. All of these people played their roles with sincerity. I especially liked the way the mother and son relationship grew on screen - I mean, Danny says, toward the end, that he wants to go back to school, and that "you can't live with your mother all your life."
Then look at the relationship between Taylor and Burton's characters. First, we learn that even an Episcopal priest, like any clergy person (disclaimer: I am a long-time Episcopal Church organist/choirmaster born in the same year as this film - 1965), is very human just like the rest of us. Second, they explore long-term relationships. I sense sadness at the break-up of the Hewitt marriage, but along the way, different issues are explored. As a long-time, and happily married person, I can understand the issues now better than ever. You just have to think about the story for awhile.
So here's a story that involves things I like: The California coast, my wife, and music in the Episcopal Church (Oh how I would have loved to be an organist at the Queen's funeral! Unfortunately, I don't play as much anymore as I make much better money as an engineer [I enjoy that too - and fortunately there are a lot of parallels between electrical engineering and music]).
Finally, the scenery! Wow! I must say the cinematography is the next best thing to being there. I love the performance of "The Shadow of your Smile" at the opening credits and the scenes of the Bixby Bridge. It is sort of a longing.
I think much of this is colored by the fact that it is our 22nd anniversary this week, and we are driving up to Big Sur. I told my wife she is Elizabeth Taylor and I am Richard Burton. We will be there for only a night. Oh how I would love to live in that Beach House that Laura Reynolds lived in!
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
03/31/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Editing could of been better, It must of been difficult to direct Taylor and Burton, it's obvious they are smitten with each other and not very focused on the story. Taylor overacts and Burton downplays his tole. Most likely to give Taylor the spotlight.
The story is good, but the acting distracts from the plot making it slow to develop.
The oscar winning soundtrack also slows it down.
It has outstanding cast but it just seems like it's missing something. Again, I would say it was the editing
Rated 2/5 Stars •
Rated 2 out of 5 stars
01/17/23
Full Review
Audience Member
I must say I am not a fan of Cleopatra or Shrew or most Burton & Taylor together movies. Both are great actors, and I would point to Taylor in Giant and Burton in Night Of The Iguana. Together they hit their stride in 1965 and 1966 with Sandpiper and Virginia Woolf. Sandpiper gives us the great director Minelli and the great writer Trumbo name on the screen after the blacklist era. Plus a great musical score and add in some Charles Bronson. Taylor plays a single mom trying to home school her child. That plot holds up to this day. The courts force her child into a school, and enter the minister and school master Burton, who is married to Eva Marie Saint. The minister finds the conflict of falling in love with the single mom. He ends up blackmailed by a money donor to the church school who desires to cheat on his wife with the single mom, even though she hates the church donor. Robert Webber as the evil church donor is the true villain. The minister and single mom are not dirty, just ill fated. They do love each other. Just as the mended sandpiper has to fly away, the minister has to escape the hypocrisy of himself and church donors way before he met the single mom. In the end the minister loves his wife and the single mom both, but leaves hoping his wife will someday join him. There is not hate as the minister and single mom part ways, just that they wish in their love that they didn't have to. Now some may not like this movie because like How Green Is My Valley, it questions the hypocrites of the church. Most religions blast movies that do this. That it is not Dirty, but their love is Beautiful, even if ill fated, is a well made movie. This movie of a single mom and a minister who never meant to fall in love are characters that hold up to this day. Anyone who sees this as a Dirty Movie is because they are Dirty Minded. This is a complex, well made movie that holds up in the narrow mindedness still going today. To me, The Sandpiper and Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf are the MUST SEE Burton with Taylor movies. Not for non thinking, weak minded, who feed on baby food movies. For those tired of pablum, I recommend trying this well made grown up movie.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
02/02/23
Full Review
Audience Member
horrible dialogue, but otherwise a pretty film with Liz Taylor looking her best. Her breasts were set to stun as she wore the most pointiest bra imaginable. Richard Burton was a place setter doing well in make out scenes but boring otherwise. Liked love song, Shadow of Your Smile, I don't know who to blame for this movie.
Rated 2/5 Stars •
Rated 2 out of 5 stars
02/25/23
Full Review
Read all reviews
Post a rating
>
