A Movie A Work Of Art?

Rating: 10/10 (13 March 2002)

To answer my own question, YES! A rare event, a movie which stimulates the intellect, asks questions, moves the soul and heart, and ENTERTAINS.
This movie DID change my view of the world and other people. Yes, it did break my heart, but ultimately it uplifted my spirit.
Shot in gorgeous black and white, with moments of realism - the cruel belching of fumes from Victorian factories - and surrealism on a level with Jean Cocteau. The performances are magnificent. Hopkins (in my view the greatest SCREEN actor of all time) is superb, understated yet portraying every emotion of a dedicated man who cares about the world. And John Hurt is truly magnificent. Buried in make up he portrays the man. Finally, we see Merrik as a MAN. And there is the pleasure of Wendy Hiller in a rare movie role, and Anne Bancroft proving she is one of the great American actresses.
Lynch gives us the oppressive and cruel Victorian value system (not the glorified Thatcher vision), and demonstrates the power of love and friendship I personally have never seen in a movie before. And it moves at a sufficiently fast pace to ensure viewers of clash bang wallop genres won't be bored. The black and white imagery is a feast for the eyes. And the score one of the most haunting, beautiful and most underrated ever - in my opinion! So, if you don't like phoney art house pieces, don't be put off, and ignore the period setting and black and white cinematography - it is sumptuous. And should be shown to everyone, including children, to try and prevent the dreadful racism and Nazism and intolerance that appears to be increasing in our times.
I have loved many many other movies, but none have affected me the way this movie has. It was cruelly robbed at the Oscars, but Garbo and Hitchcock never won one - and that says it all!