My current best film of all time

Rating: 10/10 (1 January 2011)

The story of John Merrick, to much shock and surprise, was beautifully told by the master of the surreal, David Lynch. From the stunning cinematography and music, to the performances that drive it, this is a flawless Lynchian masterpiece; his cinematic fingerprints remain visible, though his reverence for the story outlaws any of the more heavyweight surrealist indulgence one might expect. A deeply compassionate film, but never overly sentimental; never begging for you to pity the man, but rather to understand and respect him, and the people who came to know and love him. A final scene that knocks me sideways every time with its calm, understated style, set to the aching "Adagio for Strings", more often associated with "Platoon". Top-notch, intelligent film making that is hard to beat!