Review of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) by Leighton T — 01 Apr 2011

(I think the only thing that can take away from this film is that it was a play and can feel that way. Still, the camera work keeps it as fresh as possible.).

Everything about this film is extraordinary. From the light-hearted score that has a seething undertone, to the stage-auteur Mike Nichols' sure-handed direction in his debut, the fantastic black and white cinematography, extraordinary close-nit production design, the balls-out, riveting performances from all four actors, to the dedication of keeping the play and the screenplay as close as possible, no wonder this film is a classic.

At the heart it seems like it's the marriage from hell, but there are small moments throughout that show it's really not. The ending, is a lightning bolt of truth that reveals the innerworkings of George and Martha and the love that has sustained and intertwined them for so long. They are a couple with many issues, most notably, children, and while they crash into each other, "declare war" as it were (and even try to break up this younger couple), they still do love each other.

What is fascinating is how funny the film manages to be. In the insults, the extremism, the absurdism, is a deep level of humor that brings out laughs, sympthathy, empathy, pity, and sadness. The stage/written version of it I would expect this of, but I figured the film would cut away these layers in a sacrifice for reality's sake.

For two hours I was riveted. While every part of the film is great, it is the actors that are the show here and not one single moment do they disappoint.

The film was dark, but the truths that lie in its characters and themes are what make it not just a piece of classic cinema, but classic art.