Review of A Cock and Bull Story (2005) by Paul N — 06 Feb 2015
After the success of working together on 24 Hour Party People (2002), director Michael Winterbottom and star Steve Coogan reunited to take on Lawrence Sterne's seemingly unfilmable 18th Century metaphysical satire The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman.
Through the eyes of Winterbottom, it's turned into a very funny satire on filmmaking, with an all star cast on board. Steve Coogan plays "himself", who is making a film version of The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman.
Where he plays Tristram Shandy and Shandy's father Walter Shandy, while Rob Brydon plays Shandy's Uncle, Captain Toby Shandy. The film within this film is about Shandy trying to write his autobiography, but failing to get past his birth.
Meanwhile, Coogan and Brydon spar on set, especially when Brydon claims to be of equal importance to Coogan in the film, and after seeing an early cut of the film, Coogan suggests whether it would be better if they brought in Gillian Anderson to play the Widow Wadman.
It's a very unconventional film in the way it's made, but it owes a massive debt to films like 8 1/2 (1963) and Stardust Memories (1980), with the hardships of making films and how it can take over the artists' life.
As for Coogan and Brydon, this was a dry run for The Trip (2010), which they would make with Winterbottom. 4/5.
This review of A Cock and Bull Story (2005) was written by Paul N on 06 Feb 2015.
A Cock and Bull Story has generally received positive reviews.
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