Customer Reviews

My Zinc Bed

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

 

 

This movie was ...
short & sweet > 75 min
INTELLIGENT
awkward

There are only 3 characters whom interact awkwardly while showing immense intelligence.

I was thoroughly enjoying Jonathan Pryce putting the other 2 throught the ringer.
Quite entertaining!
;)

This short HBO film is based on a play by David Hare. It's a somewhat bizzare story of an alcoholic poet (Considine) who comes into contact with a powerful businessman (Pryce) and his wife (Thurman). The story revolves around alcoholism and whether or not it is a disease. As anyone with any acquaintance with this topic knows, this is often a matter of intense debate, and one that every alcoholic struggles with. As the story builds, there is some considerable suspense as the viewer is left guessing the motives of the characters, most notably Pryce. I thought the dialogue between Pryce and Considine was mostly quite excellent, and both turn in masterful performances. On the other hand, this is not Uma Thurman's best work but she is nice to look at so all is forgiven. There are a few excessively melodramatic moments and the ending struck me as a bit anticlimactic, but I personally found the film to be intriguing, and to use a tired cliche; thought-provoking. You see, the topic is something that is very personal to me and it literally made me rethink my position and look at it from a different angle. That being said, the conclusion is open-ended leaving the viewer to make up their own mind, and with something to contemplate. 3.5 stars.

With their denial, their contradictions and their acceptance we can see the different paths of three people who meet in a story around alcoholism, and alcoholics. The description of the addictions and alcoholism revealed with the behavior of the people concerned by this disease is very realistic. It shows their patterns without mercy but with compassion. Every character is difficult to play but the actors manage to fit perfectly in their part showing us the best and the worst in them. Most of the dialogues are powerful and provoking. This movie gives us the opportunity of seeing Jonathan Pryce, Paddy Considine and Uma Thurman in a great acting performance. Their talents contribute to give us a good movie about a difficult topic.

Short Attention Span Summary (SASS):

1. This is a movie adaptation of a play by David Hare
2. It centers around three characters
3. It deals with alcoholism and infidelity
4. But mostly it's a debate on the value of the AA programme
5. I would have fallen asleep, but zinc beds are too darned uncomfortable

Slow moving, rather dry British movie fails to hold the viewer's interest despite the efforts of Jonathan Pryce as a somewhat annoying wealthy businessman and Uma Thurman as his trophy wife. Paddy Considine's character runs the gamut from boring to blotto to bewildered, stopping just a tad short of believable.

I've read that the original play is bewitching, but the magic certainly hasn't transferred to the big screen.

Recommended only as punishment for alcoholics and cheaters.



Amanda Richards, April 10, 2009