Being There (1979)
Genre: Drama / Comedy
Duration: 130 minuten
Alternative titles: Chance / Welkom Mister Chance
Country:
United States
Directed by: Hal Ashby
Stars: Peter Sellers, Shirley MacLaine and Melvyn Douglas
IMDb score:
7,9 (82.517)
Releasedate: 19 December 1979
Being There plot
"Getting there is half the fun; being there is all of it!"
Autistic gardener Chance spends his entire life in an old man's house in Washington. When this man dies, Chance is left on the street with no knowledge of the world except what he's seen on TV. Chance ends up with Eve and Ben Rand, an influential yet slick businessman. Chance becomes his friend and confidant, and Chance's statements (mostly garden metaphors) are suddenly seen as great wisdom. Based on the novel by Jerzy Kosinski.
Actors and actresses
Chance
Eve Rand
Benjamin Rand
President 'Bobby'
Dr. Robert Allenby
Vladimir Skrapinov
Louise
Thomas Franklin
Sally Hayes
Johanna Franklin
Reviews & comments
Demeter
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- 262 messages
- 1671 votes
So I can't say enough about this movie. The humor is infantile and for the most part is based on misunderstandings between the characters. Now that wouldn't necessarily be a problem if it was done in a credible way, but unfortunately that is not the case. That the main character still knows how to blow his butt and just randomly says something is one thing, but that the other characters swallow it all like sweet cake is very unbelievable. Let alone that the females all fall into a swoon for this wooden, dull, slow-speaking, apathetic cold turd. The humor was also nowhere to be found.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Movsin
-
- 8286 messages
- 8441 votes
I don't see any drama in it, although I thought so for a moment when Chance was thrown out on the street.
No, it's a comedy, actually a satire on the political and shrewd business world that allows himself to be fooled by a retarded man who simply by answering simply and honestly makes the others seek serious, profound opinions behind his words. Funny, but a bit long (not that it gets boring) and certainly with some exaggeration.
Peter Sellers in the role of his life. Amazing how he can put that look in his eyes from the opening scene that makes it clear what kind of person he is. In addition, certainly Melvyn Douglas while Shirley MacLaine has the most insecure role.
Good, striking staging. Film is exactly like today, ahead of its time actually. Must be director Hal Ashby's best work.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Woland
-
- 4809 messages
- 3825 votes
Well, I don't understand the whole polonaise with this film. Well, I kind of get it, I can imagine that it looks nice and that people like the satirical aspect. But I don't like these kinds of films very well, I couldn't do much with something like Forrest Gump. Simple soul Chance has been a gardener all his life for an old rich man who dies at some point - but by staying simple and honest he comes across as profound and accidentally packs the upper echelons of Washington, up to the president to. Well, what a sharp satire. I found Peter Sellers especially irritating and found the satirical aspect to be mediocre. That IMDb score of 8.0, 12 ICM lists and a 3.7 on MM, it will all be fine, but I'm going to boo here. Hardly funny, satire of lik me cardigan (it's completely unbelievable that people don't see through this after five minutes), and that someone is simple is not at all something with that, but I don't need to see a movie about that either.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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