Review of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) by Priyu K — 22 Nov 2014
The challenge in making a movie about detestable people is to prevent the movie from becoming detestable by extension. Being detestable is quite a bit easier than being likable, so it is no great feat to write characters like George (Richard Burton), Martha (Elizabeth Taylor), and the feckless young couple they make privy to their spats.
But to make such characters compelling and sympathetic as well-a necessity if the audience is to care about the juvenile antics happening on screen-is much more challenging. Ernest Lehman's screenplay and Mike Nichols' directing are not up to the task.
Burton and Taylor, unsurprisingly, are, and only their acting makes the film watchable. In an early scene Taylor gets the chance to impersonate Bette Davis, which she does remarkably well. Still, viewers seeking an intelligent film on the theme of domestic dysfunction would do better to watch Liz in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" (1958).
This review of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) was written by Priyu K on 22 Nov 2014.
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? has generally received very positive reviews.
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