Review of Being There (1979) by Marion R — 25 Sep 2010
In "Being There", Peter Sellers plays a simple, TV-raised gardener who is cast unceremoniously into a strange world of which he's only glimpsed misleading samples through the boob tube. Through a series of comedic miscommunications, he is soon assumed a perspicacious political analyst whose literal gardening advice is mistaken for eccentric insight.
One misstep could have turned it into an insensitive mockery of retardation, but Sellers gives a delicate, perfectly understated, and even sad performance that challenges his manic creations in "Dr.
Strangelove" as his best work. Hal Ashby's soft direction keeps this droll, thought-provoking little comedy at just the right pace, even if all the comic misunderstandings grow repetitious after a while.
This review of Being There (1979) was written by Marion R on 25 Sep 2010.
Being There has generally received very positive reviews.
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