Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? was the final film of the Florida Film Festival and it was extremely cool to get to see this film. I knew basically nothing about it, but I learned a bit from the opening speaker before it started. I got to see it in this great theater called the Enzian, which I plan to frequent quite a bit now that I know about it. I enjoyed Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and think it belongs in the Not Quite Golden, Ponyboy rating.
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Summary
Martha (Elizabeth Taylor) and George (Richard Burton) are a bitter, aging couple that invite a younger couple over to their house for drinks. Several drinks later fuel the bitterness and the anguish between the couple and begin to play twisted emotional and psychological games against each other often including the younger couple.
I don’t believe I’ve ever seen an Elizabeth Taylor film or anyone else in it to be honest. I was extremely engrossed in the film. It’s very sad at times, advantages funny at other points, and constantly keeping you guessing how it would play it. It’s the story of a broken couple who really seem to need each other. Taylor and Burton are great and really have great onscreen chemistry.
Mike Nichols was the director, and I also haven’t seen any of his films recently, but plan on seeing The Graduate and Charlie Wilson’s War this year. Considering this was an adapted play it has lots of great cinematic elements. The scene with the rifle is a great example. Note the triangle the shot creates between the three suspects. The rifle gives the context of disharmony, as in something is wrong. Don’t worry, this shot is early in the film and isn’t quite as dire as it looks.
I don’t know if this film will appeal to anyone. However, the relationship displayed on screen by Burton and Taylor is intense and definitely crazy. The anger and disdain the two demonstrate for one another is crazy and definitely not something everyone will relate to.
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