Review of Tom Jones (1963) by &Hearts;Pam&Hearts; — 17 Jun 2008

Oscar winning best picture of 1963, this movie was on my list of movies I should have watched but never did. Interestingly presented as a parody of silent films in a farcically slapstick and quirky manner, there is much to recommend this film, which leaves me a bit confused as to why I can only rate it 3 stars.

Albert Finney, whom I love as a character actor, surprised me as cutie-patootie in his pre-Daddy Warbucks days. I guess the fact that I was 7 years old when this movie came out might explain why I didn't see it d back then. I would imagine the kind of raw bawdiness that pulses throughout the film raised a few eyebrows in the small town of my childhood. It translates far less seamy today, but I still hated the hunt scene and all the disgusting meat eating food sequences. I suppose they were trying to create a realistic idea of the griminess and cruelty of the time period, but that doesn't change the fact that I found it gross and a bit gratuitous.

Still, the story seemed to follow the book closely and I loved the weirdness of the actor asides to the camera, the silent movie -type opening and piano sequences and the general idea that this film was shot with a small budget and much talent only to win out over the hugely hyped and extravagantly over-spent Cleopatra. Gotta love an underdog!

Still, I can't give a movie 4 stars when I don't have the desire to see it again. It's worth recommending, though just because of the historical significance and the unusual nature of the film.