highly recommended

Rating: 8/10 (2 January 2006)

I have always thought Anthony Hopkins is the best actor cinema has ever seen. When I watched this film, I just found one more reason to think it. He is just perfect in one more character, in this case, the doctor of a hospital in London, England whose routine changes when he finds (in a circus) a man with a terrible deformity in his body. The tumours in his skin and the scaring problems in his bones make him look like an elephant. The doctor takes the elephant man to the hospital and takes care of him. He also treats the poor lad with love and care, and it makes him feels good. John Hurt is superb as the elephant man, and his performance must have taken some awards.
The film was totally done in black and white, and it certainly contributes to give it a dark and old look, what perfectly matches with the atmosphere of the story. This is also an important factor to make the elephant man even more terrifying.