Customer Reviews

The Committee

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was totally shocked when walking into Virgin Megastore nonchalantly
one day, to discover that this film thought long forgotten, had been
actually released. It's something many people no doubt for decades have
wished to see.

This DVD comes with an excellent interview sequence (as long as the 54
minute film) which does explain things if you get a little bit
confused! While admitting, that yes, I knew of this film as a hardcore
Pink Floyd fan (whom indeed provide some great musical moments) the
film is nonetheless an excellent example of the type of "art" films of
the period and is well worth investigating.

If your into Kafka, Hesse, The Prisoner, Sixties "pop" Psychology,
New-Left Politics, Antonioni (spelt right?), Godard, Bergman etc etc
then I do recommend this film. It's perhaps more of a period piece now
of course, and the director himself admits flaws, but this is still a
thoughtful experience and its sad in a way that it seems so fresh
amidst all the more intelligent, commercial films of today. This is
especially a point worth noting; when thinking that the film is of its
time, and was designed for a receptive, cool, hip audience. Today while
claims are made that a film is made commercially but in a more
intelligent way for a mass audience it still just seems to say "Well
there you go, watch the flashing lights, a few nice things to think
about - happy now?" Actually it's interesting that the writer in the
interview section cites The Matrix as a comparable example, when
discussing the themes of the film.

The decapitation scene is quite shocking even by todays standards,
especially when the head is sewn back on! Also, while admittedly biased
there is an excellent, memorable scene with various individuals walking
around an office with a wonderful repetitive piece of music by the
Floyd.

Certainly not for everyone, but if you're in the know and looking for
an experience I would certainly give this film a try. I struggled
whether to vote it 7 or 8 out of ten, but then, I'm writing this so it
must have made an impression!

Enjoy.

This footnote in the Pink Floyd filmography has its memorable moments, Arthur Brown singing "Nightmare" (NOT "Fire", for what it's worth), Manfred Man's Paul Jones in a quirky little acting role, and rather limited Pink Floyd participation.

There are no Pink Floyd "songs" here, it seems that the band must have been shown rushes (sections of film scenes) in-studio that they played reactionary sounds & sound-effects to; an ominous keyboard sequence here, a drum fill there, a slide-guitar effect, that's really about it, and that's why you've never seen any cuts from this film on any bootleg records or CDs. If you're Pink Floyd hardcore you're going to see this anyway; if you're merely Pink Floyd curious you can skip this one and go straight to "La Vallee" and "Zabriskie Point."

The film itself is sort of Kafka-light; The Committee knows your secret actions and your hidden thoughts, but they want to persuade you through polite confrontation and psycho-analysis to come around to their way of seeing thing, Big Nanny instead of Big Brother. The film is sometimes a bit unclear and a bit of a mess, but the Writer/Producer & Directors interviews see you clear on what they were attempting, even if it does get a little lost in self-indulgence from time to time.

Its historic significance is going to keep this film perpetually on the shelves, but it's really not very noteworthy as a film.

I had been trying to get this movie for ages without success but it finally popped through my letterbox the other day courtesy of netflix. Whilst I have always had a tendency to an anti-authoritarian streak my desire to see this movie came about from my perception of being an outsider in Amerikan society. Since 9/11 I have felt increasingly isolated in a society which has become much more introverted and uniform, and paranoid about outsiders. Civil liberties are seemingly under attack from all directions but under the overarching fear of being attacked these liberties are seen to be of lesser importance if the propagandists are to be believed.

This movie is a short, somewhat schizophrenic, view of the world which can be viewd on several levels from the individual to the symbolic. The individual within a society and the conflict inherent within the playing of the role is a major aspect of the movie. One must alsoi recognise the milieu in which the movie was shot: 1968 the year of the bougeois revolutions, the aftermath of the summer of love, convulsions in western industrialised societies and the anti-war movement as well as the campaign for nuclear disarmament. As one views the movie it is like a flawed lens where one shifts from perception to perception.

Throughout the movie the art sounds of the Pink Floyd enhance the film. Although the Floyd contibuted to several soundtracks the same themes found later are to be found here. Arthur Brown contributes a somewhat bizarre song which provides a focus for the British underground movement although I would have thought the free press of International Times and OZ would have made a more substantial impact.

One is reminded at times of Brazil and many other media portrayals and the whole concept of bureaucracy is subsumed by the notion of a committee of the whole nation. In many ways this movie is a refutation of Margaret Thatcher's remark that there is no such thing as society yet in an apparent contradition when individuals are acting qua individuals then her remarks carry some validity.

I would recommend this movie to all free thinking individuals everywhere.

I bought this because I had to as a Pink Floyd collector. It says that it comes with a bonus CD. It does not. Even though my copy had the same sticker as seen in the picture here that advertises a bonus CD there was no CD in the package.

This short, black & white TV movie from 1968 makes no sense but features incidental music by Pink Floyd (with David Gilmour no Syd Barrett) and Arthur Brown lip-syncing a performance of his song "Nightmare" (from 'The Crazy World of Arthur Brown' album).

Unfortunately, the bonus CD does not have any music from film. It's a random collection of unrelated songs:
01 Paul Jones - The Committee [re-recorded, 2003] [3:55]
02 Claron McFadden & The Homemade Orchestra - Here Comes The Flood [Peter Gabriel cover, 2004] [5:19]
03 Colin Reily & Tim Whitehead - Bird [jazz tune, 2003] [13:48]

[DW]

This was a rare film for US viewers to get their hands on in the late 60's but now you can buy this wonderful British film courtesy of the Pennsylvania distributor, MVD.
Starring Paul Jones of Manfred Mann group fame and featuring an amazing soundtrack by Pink Floyd that has never been released in any format.
The film transfer is excellent and an extra bonus is a CD featuring a new recording with Paul Jones singing "The Committee".
Interesting guest appearance in the film by Arthur Brown is a must see.
The film uses a surreal murder to show conflict between bureaucracy and freedom.

"The Committee" is a rough watch. As the film makers admit, they made this film for themselves and entertainment was not an objective. Without an audience in mind, Peter Sykes tried too hard to craft an 'important' film. It is unlikely that the modern viewer will 'get' the hour long film until watching the interviews. After watching the lengthy interview segment, the watcher will realize that it really was just about committees. Granted, it's a deeply philosophical dialogue about committees that considers the tension between the individual and society. At the end of the day, it just isn't worth the effort. Indeed, this is not a film that will come to the viewer, rather the audience must come to the film. All of that written, "The Committee" is not without merit. It stands as a curious bauble from the 1960's. The black and white cinematography is spectacular. The camera work is very creative. The bonus interviews help to illuminate the film makers' intentions and flush out the movie's context. Beyond this, there's the soundtrack. For this viewer, the film was part of a life goal to watch all films that feature Pink Floyd soundtracks. The Floyd's contribution is enjoyable, but there's little substance. It's really not until the final sequence that the longest and most interesting composition is played. Music is not an overall strength when Pink Floyd's music stands alongside the deeply unsettling song performed by Arthur Brown -he's the freaky guy on the cover. If you're a devotee of 1960's art house films, you'll adore "The Committee." Enthusiasts of early Pink Floyd should try to avoid this film. That written, I'm grateful that "The Committee" is in print so that Floydian fanatics like myself can satisfy their viewing urges. Now if only "Zabriskie Point" and "More" could join "The Committee" and "La Vallee" and return via DVD.