Review of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) by Adrienne L — 25 Mar 2011

An incredible, and often times uncomfortable look inside a night in the lives of an aging alcoholic couple who are mutually unhappy with their life choices (including each other). He is a flailing passive-aggressive college professor who reluctantly works for his wife's father. While she is an extremly self-destructive and embittered flirt who punishes her husband relentlessly for not being the man he truly wishes he were.

Amongst their issues are his failure to become a published author despite his wit and love of words. And she feels he only married her beuse he had hoped to one day run the college her father runs a tight reign on. Is she right? Did he ever really love her? Did he really murder his parents? And what is the secret surrounding their absent teenage son?

The answers slowly reveal themselves in a series of verbal games as a young couple drop by late in the evening to have a few drinks. After a party ends that was thrown in the young husbands honour by the professor's father-in-law, the new players quickly learn that smiles and friendly commentaries will not be enough for them to make through the evening with the seasones drinkers unscathed.

The young husband is handsome, cocky and ambitious. Hes a studly former athlete whose goal is to take the job the aging professor couldn't handle himself. The aging professor takes an immediate dislike to him. He embittered wife has other ideas. The young wife is naive and can't hold her liquor. Upon their arrival it is clear no one is going to become friends and soon everyone's dirty laundry is laid out in full view.

These four characters are made more intriguing by the sharp dialogue and witty bantering. Its like watching an angry ping-pong game. You can't take your eyes off it, but you wouldn't say its completely enjoyable either. I think its a timeless film. It must have been incredible to watch as a stage play. A definite personal favourite of mine. I love its rawness and its striking honesty to depict its cast with more than just one character flaw a piece.

I watched this last night in honour of Elizabeth. She truly was a screen treasure. I will miss her horribly. Her films are very special. Rest in peace Elizabeth. xx oo.