Customer Reviews

Tim [VHS]

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

One of Mel Gibson's earliest films, "Tim" has been overlooked by most Mel Gibson fans. Gibson plays a young, mentally challenged Australian in a romantic relationship with an older, American business executive (Piper Laurie). A youthful Mel Gibson shows his talent to create believable characters and make us forget he's acting.

The film examines the theme of star-crossed lovers in the context of age, mental capacity, and social acceptance. The emotional tide of Tim's family, his lover, and their peers pulls at our heart-strings, and forces a sometimes uncomfortable self-examination of how we judge others and how we may define "love."

This movie is a great, romantic tear-jerker. The slower pace and gritty texture of early Australian cinema may deter some viewers, but the fresh story-line alone makes this movie well worth watching.

You'll like this movie if:

You liked Kevin Costner's "Message in a Bottle," and enjoyed Mel Gibson in "Man Without A Face" and "What Women Want."

You'll be disappointed if:

You're expecting a light, romantic comedy like "What Women Want," or the action of "The Road Warrior."

This is a gem of a film, starring the underrated Piper Laurie in the role of a well to do, but lonely, business woman, Mary Horton, who befriends a very nice, good looking day laborer, Tim Melville, earnestly played by a very young Mel Gibson. Tim happens to be a little simple. His family describes him as being "a few short of a full quid".

While he does work around her house, she gets to know him, as well as his working class family. As time goes on, a deep fondness that ripens into love develops between the two. He brings her out of her shell, and she teaches him to read and explains concepts that will enable him to function better in the world around him. Based upon Colleen McCollough's book of the same name, this is a very well acted film, with fine performances by the supporting cast, as well as the leads.

The quality of the DVD is bargain basement with no additional features. That is to be expected, as the price of this DVD is likewise bargain basement. One gets what one pays for. Moreover, the DVD picture is best described as grainy. This is unfortunate for such an excellent film. A better transfer from print to DVD should have been executed, as this film certainly merits it, as does the viewer.

Having read the book, I can see why Gibson was chosen for the role. Tim is described as someone with features that would have inspired Praxiteles.-Classic and beautiful in Greek purportions. Despite the lack of blond hair that Colleen McCoullough ascribed her mentally diminished hero, Gibson gives him the vulnerabilty and nobility that McCoullogh describes. Piper Laurie is marvelous as Tim's employer, caretaker, and eventual love interest. The Australian landscape was gorgeous(it reminds me of Hawaii, where I lived as a child). But I was glad this film spares us the full descriptions of how Tim was treated by his co-workers. This is a very sensitive, well-thought piece, and I guess I can overlook many inconsistancies with the book and just enjoy the beauty of it.

Having read the book, I can see why Gibson was chosen for the role. Tim is described as someone with features that would have inspired Praxiteles.- Classic and beautiful in Greek purportions. Despite the lack of blond hair the Colleen McCollough ascribed her mentally diminished hero, Gibson gives him the vulnerabity and nobilty that McCoullough describes. Piper Laurie is marvelous as Tim's employer,caretaker and eventual love interest. The Australian landscape was gorgeous ( It reminds me of Hawaii, where I lived a a child). But I was glad this film spared us the full desciptions of how Tim was treated by his co- workers.This is a very sensitive, well thought piece, and I guess I can overlook many inconsistancies withthe book and just enjoy the beauty of it.

One thinks that the most importan thing in life is in our head. Thoughts are nothing without feelings. A brillant mind can kill thousands of soul but a brillant heart creates films, characters, stories like Tim.

One of Mel Gibson's earliest films, "Tim" has been overlooked by most Mel Gibson fans. Gibson plays a young, mentally challenged Austrailian in a romantic relationship with an older, American business executive(Piper Laurie). A youthful Mel Gibson shows his talent to create believable characters and make us forget he's acting.

The film examines the theme of star-crossed lovers in the context of age, mental capacity, and social acceptance. The emotional tide of Tim's family, his lover, and their peers pulls at our heart-strings, and forces a sometimes uncomfortable self-examination of how we judge others and how we may define "love."

This movie is a great, romantic tear-jerker. The slower pace and gritty texture of early Austrailian cinema may deter some viewers, but the fresh story-line alone makes this movie well worth watching.

You'll like this movie if:
You liked Kevin Costner's "Message in a Bottle," and enjoyed Mel Gibson in "Man Without A Face" and "What Women Want."

You'll be disappointed if:
You're expecting a light, romantic comedy like "What Women Want," or the action of "The Road Warrior."

It is a rare occasion that I am disappointed enough to write a negative review but I feel compelled to do so.

First, let me emphasize that my complaint is not with the content of the movie which is surprisingly faithful to the book. I've owned 'Tim' on VHS for many years and clearly understood that this version had not been digitally remastered or such. I expected the poor image quality, I simply wanted to be able to watch from a DVD rather than a videotape that was beginning to show its' age.

My issue with this DVD is that a pivotal, and I mean pivotal scene between Tim and Mary is completely left out of this version of the film! I kept 'rewinding' thinking I had somehow missed it but, no, it was not there.

Should I complain so vocally over a $4.99 DVD? Perhaps not, but for those of you who are fans of the movie and just looking for a more contemporary medium to view it in, don't bother with this particular copy of 'Tim'. In comparing the number of minutes on each of the 'Tim' DVDs offered here it would appear that they are all likely missing that scene. I shall just have to try to extend the life of my poor worn out video tape for as long as I can, I suppose.

Tim is one of Mel Gibsons first works and his very best acting
is shown in this movie.

This movie loses some of the power of Colleen McCullough's novel by glossing over the lonely lives of the main characters prior to their relationship. It is by seeing Tim Melville, a bewildered child who longs to get in on the jokes at his expense, get mocked and kicked around by his workmates, and Mary Horton playing the prickly, aloof dragon lady at her office and taking solitary comfort in her carefully arranged life and material possessions, that we appreciate what a transformation each undergoes in the course of the story. Also, the actors cast do not match the physical appearances described in the novel (a matter on which I usually am not picky, but which does have some impact on the plotline in this case). Finally, the perky background music can be somewhat obnoxious and occasionally masks the dialogue in my copy.

All of those complaints aside, this is an endearing, moving, and uplifting film with very good acting. Mel Gibson is excellent, projecting the essential sweetness, enthusiasm, and yearning of his character with his expressive eyes and irresistable grin in the necessary absence of eloquent dialogue. Piper Laurie could have been allowed to stretch a bit, to show the crotchety spinster she believed herself to be before getting to know Tim, but she is attractive, sympathetic and believable. The actors who played Tim's parents were particularly good. One could even argue that the choice to focus more on the dynamics of Mary and the family so dear to Tim allowed a more satisfying conclusion than that of the novel. I recommend this film to anyone who is interested in seeing Gibson's versatility in a lesser known role, admires Tom Hanks' performance in "Forrest Gump," or simply enjoys Australian film or light drama/romance.

Mel Gibson never ceases to impress me with his onscreen presence,he is totally captivating and watchable, not just for his looks (some ladies might disagree there) but simply because of the honesty and reality he brings to a role. "Tim" is a great example of some of his best work. Playing a guy this childlike and simple is probably one of the greatest challenges for any actor, but Gibson pulls it off with sincerity and credibility. We're not watching the Lethal Weapon guy here, I didn't think of macho Mel once, he WAS Tim. Also excellent were Piper Laurie as his friend and lover, and the actor who played his father. Overall, a peaceful touching movie that is worth renting or buying. Definitely NOT Oprah or Hallmark Hall of Fame garbage. Just another quality Mel Gibson movie.