Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?

Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?
1966 - Warner Brothers
Directed By Mike Nichols



SYNOPSIS
A bitter, dysfunctional couple (Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor) invites a young couple(George Segal and Sandy Dennis) over for drinks. Secrets, self-destruction and madness are shared during several grotesque 'games' the couples play.



MY THOUGHTS

This film is perfect 'Exhibit A' against getting married! It plays on the fears of falling out of love with someone, personified by Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton's characters.

Elizabeth Taylor's character is like a female Stanley Kowalski from "A Streetcar Named Desire." She's brutish, abrasive, in your face, and excessively domineering. Taylor's performance is an equal to Brando's, and deservedly won an Oscar.
Burton and Segal give strong performances that were also nominated. Burton is on par with Taylor here.
Sandy Dennis won best supporting actress, for her performance as the not-so-bright young wife.

It's a wonder that Taylor and Burton chose this as a project to do since they were married at the time. Their interactions are brutal and violent, like a verbal boxing match, no, a gang fight! The couple loathes everything about the other, yet at times some love is evident, even though respect for the other has long since left. The two cling to illusions like their 'son' to keep them going together. Both are not very likeable, but the superb screenplay creates sympathy for them, as well as their guests.

The young couple seems to be more stable, but the older couple leads them to realize their relationship isn't as perfect as it appears... and is more like them then the young ones would ever want.

The film is based on a play by Edward Albee and uses minimal locations, like on the stage. Most of the film is set in just one room. This adds greatly to the confining 'pressure cooker' feel of the narrative.

The film is a fascinating study of these couples, and despite the film consisting of little more than 4 people talking for more than 2 hours, it's never dull. I heartily recommend this film to everyone, especially young newlyweds!