"I am not an animal! I am a human being! I...am...a man!"... Amazingly Moving

Rating: 10/10 (27 November 2005)

Wow... I have just seen this movie and I have to say 'The Elephant Man' moved me more than anything else I have seen in a very long time. This is a real classic and in my opinion Anthony Hopkins best ever performance. Joseph Merrick (or as he is known as in the film John Merrick) was born severely disfigured due to an horrendous congenital disease that left 90% of his body covered in tumours. As he grew up his condition worsened and by the age of 21 he was making a living in freak shows where he was presented to the audience as 'The Elephant Man'! John Hurt's portrayal of 'The Elephant Man' is simply amazing, moving, compassionate and deeply romantic! Whilst Hopkins approaches Dr. Fredrick Treves with genuine insight into the potential for great kindness and strengh that human nature embraces, providing a startling and moving contrast to the majority of other characters in the film who approach John with contempt and malicious intent. The movie really highlights the plight of Merrick when Victorian society knew and understood very little about what they dubbed 'freaks of nature' and often approached such unfortunate individuals with a mixture fear and perverted joy. Even those supposedly more educated individuals have trouble accepting Merrick for who he is: an incredibly intelligent, sensitive, loving yet horribly oppressed human being. Claiming that "a hospital is no place for circus animals" yet as John himself summed it up so brilliantly "I am not an animal! I am a human being! I...am...a man!" It's amazing how much one man can endure, physical beatings, mental torture, and terminal illness yet still survive to prove to the world that their soul remains intact. As the film progresses the audience get to see beyond Merricks physical deformity and recognise him for the beautiful human being that he really is! The ending is brilliant, subtle and yet highly emotional with the death of John Merrick peacefully in his sleep. Yet now he is no longer alone and as the last line of the film sums up so perfectly "Nothing will die". Joseph Merrick will never truly die. His memory remains intact for anyone who has ever seen this film or heard his story. Whenever anyone accepts someone who is different to themselves they are remembering his name in the best way they know how. We can all say we know the story of 'The Elephant Man' but the question we have to ask ourselves is can we simply say that facts and figures are the best way to remember this man by? Suerly remembering through the love he shared with those closest to him is the only way to go forward.
Definitely a film I would be proud to have as part of my collection! This movie is definitely of 5* quality and that is why I have given it a 10/10.