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20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Robin Williams plays five men, each in search of "family.", November 18, 1998
I think "Being Human" is one of the most underrated pictures of the last ten years. Robin Williams plays five different men through successively more modern time periods - the first segment being in prehistoric times, the second in ancient Rome, the third during the time of the Crusades, the fourth in the Renaissance, and the fifth in modern-day Manhattan. Each man is on a quest which relates to his family, as he first loses them and then, through the individual scenes, must find and develop relationships with them. Along the way, the human condition is analyzed in dramatic and funny ways, such as what are common threads among human existence - fresh food, good shoes, companionship, safety, honesty. Williams is joined by a stellar cast, including Hector Elizando, Lorraine Bracco, John Turturro, Vincent D'Onofrio, and several others. Bill Forsyth, the writer and director of "Local Hero," also made this film. One of my all-time favorite films.
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A beautiful, sweeping human experience, October 25, 2001
Being Human is easily the most well crafted and intelligent film that I have ever seen as it truly does capture the unfathomable human experience. Robin Williams transcends time as he is continuously "reborn" throughout the expanse of human history--beginning with an early European civilization and ending in what is the modern age. In each era, he depicts an average human being experiencing the trials of life particular to that time period. As a proto-neolithic, European man he witnesses the destruction of his way of life and the capture of his family by a marauding band from perhaps another clan or tribe. In this he experiences loss and pain, and likewise he drifts from life to life, immersed in the sorrows and joys of the human condition. From a slave to a shipwrecked noble, he spans time in order to bring us a vignette of humanity. The movie is powerful and is one that leaves the viewer with that profound sense of depth that all universal, surreal movie experiences seem to convey. It is truly ashame that some critics claim that this movie was a good idea gone bad. I concur that most people more comfortable with exploding buildings and glittery special effects probably just didn't get this one.
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17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
under rated, February 13, 2004
"Being Human" is one of those movies you either hate or you love. For some it is slow and the historical vignettes uninteresting. I, personally, find the storytelling thread does an excellent job of interconnecting the five time periods covered (pre-history, ancient Rome, Middle Ages, Age of Discovery and modern America). Robin Williams is a good actor who brings depth to each man he plays Frankly I would have preferred more time in Ancient Rome and seeing the Middle Ages man return to his family but those aren't a slam on the movie. No, there are no heroic battles or monsters; this is the story of the average guy who is actually what most students in history course would love to learn more about.
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