I was about to write almost off of the same thoughts as NewtonUK !
The original production and the original cast were wonderful! Hirsch, Gorman and Wedgeworth were perfect and infused the character with more than what was on the page. They created real flesh and blood characters. Gorman was damn funny, Wedgeworth was an empty headed riot and Hirsch made you feel the pain, fear, guilt, sadness. He was very raw and real. Gillette on the other hand, was glorious. She had a wonderful combination of strength and vulnerability. She lost the Tony that year to Jessica Tandy for The Gin Game. But, her performance was totally Tony worthy.
The play itself, like some of Simon's other excellent and more serious works (Lost in Yonkers, Biloxi Blues) has trouble "ending". The film doesn't really work for me. Caan is weak and doesn't seem to be in the same movie as everyone else. He reads lines...doesn't act them (a problem Ive mostly felt in his performances). Mason is excellent. She mostly always is. Interesting that she is playing her life story! |
