Review of Being There (1979) by Marlan M — 24 May 2012
This is one of my favorite movies of all time. It's a study on the profound nature of simplicity and how our perceptions and pre-conceived notions can deceive us.
The lead character is the rarest of all beings- an innocent and naive adult whose simple-minded nature is perceived as brilliance. Circumstances take him into the home of a presidential confidante and he becomes an unlikely adviser to powerful people; sought-after talk show guest and potential political contender. And all the while he doesn't even know it.
This film pre-dated Forrest Gump by 15 years, and "out-Gumps' it by a mile or two. (And Forrest Gump wasn't too shabby, either!).
Two Oscar Nominations here, too. Peter Sellers lost to Dustin Hoffman in "Kramer Vs. Kramer" and Melvyn Douglass won Best Supporting Actor beating Robert Duvall in "Apocolypse Now". Pretty impressive for a movie hardly anyone saw at the theaters.
This review of Being There (1979) was written by Marlan M on 24 May 2012.
Being There has generally received very positive reviews.
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