Friday, July 11, 2008
FANTASY WORLD
Today's NYTimes Best 1176 Film was John Schlesinger's
This film about a young man who fantasizes a life apart from his provincial, Yorkshire, reality is very good. Amazingly, it does not date. Even though its theme of modernism could be very 60's, it still reads today.
It is very funny. And sad.
The final scenes where Billy decides on whether to stay where he is or go to London is very suspenseful. Drawn out just to the last bit of anxiety can be spent.
Tom Courtenay is Billy. His 'muse' to get out of his Yorkshire rut is Julie Christie in her first film.
There is a lot going on with the jokes and all.
I would like to see it again to get it all down. But I probably won't take the initiative.
It is very very British.
That is not a bad thing. But it does make me a bit provincial, doesn't it?
That makes it a 4 out of Netflix5.
Labels: best films
