May 03, 2002 - 2:24 pm
i don't think i can do justice in describing this film. it's very eclectic. to my knowledge of the Oscars (keep in mind there are very few i haven't seen at this point) this is the only outright comedy to win Best Picture. Annie Hall (1977) is also referred to as a comedy, but to my taste it isn't very funny. plus it's more of a romance. but Tom Jones has some very funny things going on in it. i think some of the funniest bits were where characters (usually Tom himself) would turn to the camera and either talk to us or do something else directly involving the audience. example: Tom and a woman fighting over some money stolen from his trousers during the night. she's yelling that he never had a five hundred pound note. he's yelling that she took it. (quickly-with the woman yelling over him)"somebody took the money from my pocket-you probably took the money from my pocket-(turns to us)-did YOU see her take the money from my pocket?"
there's some crazy crazy cinematography here too. lots of hand held stuff. almost reminded me of Romeo and Juliet (1968). the main question we must ask ourselves is how do you get a tracking shot (medium closeup) of a tick hound running through the woods at ground level, full stride? i have no answers.
this movie made me really start to enjoy Albert Finney. the only other thing i've seen him in before is Annie (1982) as Daddy Warbucks. two movies on my list that i want to see him in: Miller's Crossing (1990) and Erin Brockovich (2000).
i'll give this one an 8/10. i don't think you can really be prepared to see this movie no matter what i tell you. it's very good. very strange. very innovative.