A Parable of the Human Soul

Rating: 10/10 (4 June 2009)

The Elephant Man is the single most underrated film in the history of American cinema. The performances were nothing less than flawless, and the atmosphere of the story, brought to life by a combination of hauntingly beautiful music and being shot in black-and-white, is other-worldy. I will break down every aspect of The Elephant Man so that I can explain exactly how this movie made me feel.
1.) Jon Hurt plays the eponymous lead, Joseph Merrick, a sufferer of Proteus Syndrome who is flaunted as a sideshow freak. Rescued by Dr. Frederick Treves (Anthony Hopkins,) Merrick is shown humanity and that there are those in the world who will see him for his inner beauty, rather than his outer deformations. Hurt's performance in the film, which was nominated for an Oscar but did not win (unbelievable,) was moving on so many levels. The most prominent of course is his sheer inability to comprehend the cruelty he is faced with; this is expressed in the infamous line, "I am not an animal! I am a human being!" I swear to God, I cried my eyes out.
2.) Anthony Hopkins plays Frederick Treeves, an English doctor who treats and befriends Merrick after rescuing him from the circus. Treves is the symbol of the essential goodness in people. Anthony Hopkins is one of my favorite actors of all time, partly because of this role and partly because of his portrayal of Hannibal Lecter (Yes, that's right, the infamous Hannibal the Cannibal.) Treves is one of the few, and possibly the only person to show genuine affection for Merrick in the film.
3.)The opening theme of the film gave me an unusual feeling. I wasn't sure how i was going to feel about the rest of the movie; it gave me a sort of hollow, foreboding sense. The eerie circus music also sent an additional shiver up my spine.
4.) The most emotional scenes in the film, all of which obviously center themselves around Merrick, are as follows:
1. The scene in Joseph's bedroom when a group of drunken criminals break in and assault him, throwing him around and lifting off the ground, all the while circus music plays in the background.
2. The chase through the train station, when an exasperated Merrick is run down by a crowd of angry onlookers. He is backed into a corner with, his malformed face exposed, and exclaims: "I am not an animal! I am a human being! I... am a... man!"
3. The final scene of the film when Merrick commits an act of self-euthanasia by lying on his back to sleep, which he is aware will kill him. After examining a painting of a small girl lying flat, he imitates her in a final attempt to be "normal," resulting in his implied death. He drifts off to sleep as the words of his deceased mother ring out in his head. "Nothing will die."
I have heard some critics say that after seeing the film they did not know what is said about the human condition. This angered me. The message was clear and simple, and that is: "No matter the condition of the soul, the is still human." This theme is wrapped up so efficiently in the film's most iconic line. For anyone looking to watch a great drama film, I highly suggest The Elephant Man.