The Elephant Man

There are some movies that I seem to avoid. "The Elephant Man" is one of them, even though it is a film by my great favorite David Lynch. But I feel the same with Kubrick. I still haven't seen "Full Metal Jacket". But finally, I got around to watching "The Elephant Man". One of the few films that Lynch made on a studio commission. It is a disgusting film, not because of how John Merrick looks, but because his life is disgusting. And not because life itself is disgusting, but because people are disgusting. Well, that's just the way it is, I guess I'll have to accept it. A beautiful film about a man who was never regarded as a real human being. Lynch's own presence is felt in it, the way he presented himself. Not as strongly as in his personal films, but some scenes are simply his. Like the opening or other dreamlike sequences. I almost wonder how it would have turned out if he had more freedom. Nevertheless, this is a beautiful film. (02/25/2014)

I can't believe that this gem came from the same man who made that crap called Twin Peaks. Lynch tells a beautiful and human story in a charming and compelling way, and the camera work in particular is absolutely perfect. The public's fascination with a disfigured and severely tortured person could not have been better portrayed, and the brilliant character of the "elephant man" simply has to evoke feelings of pity and compassion, which underpin the whole atmosphere of the film. It's just a wonderful story and I don't know what else to highlight. (04/08/2012)

The suggestive and oppressive atmosphere of a hostile city as a contrast to the soul of an internally beautiful person. Lynch occasionally goes beyond the discomfort of the audience in terms of human monstrosity and allows the defenseless individual to suffer too often, but in the end, it gets to me. Mainly because the final Adagio for strings is among the most melancholic scenes I have ever seen. (01/07/2006)

This Lynch picture tells us a lot about people. And it’s not all nice. In terms of film craftsmanship, this is precise work where the director doesn’t stray for an instant from the planned storyline and achieves absolutely engrossing atmospheres by working with light and the camera. The acting performances, primarily the hypnotized Anthony Hopkins, just go to underpin the perfection of this biographic drama. (10/01/2011)

David Lynch always focused on emotional manipulation with the viewer and enjoyed pulling at their heartstrings. However, betting on sentimentality was not usually part of his tried and true directing style, and The Elephant Man represents a departure from that. In this case, Lynch overwhelms the viewer with sentiment and purposely counts on the audience's sympathy toward his protagonist. Unfortunately, the story is somewhat simplistic for my taste, and Lynch's approach feels too shallow and predictable. The truths he aims to reveal are simply too obvious and do not present any dilemmas or tricky choices for me. Nonetheless, the film remains a quality work with excellent performances from the actors, especially Anthony Hopkins, who demonstrates why he has been at the top of his craft for decades, not only on the British Isles but also in world cinema. Additionally, the atmosphere of Victorian England deserves recognition. Despite all of this, I truly do not see it as deserving of four stars. After all, such a highly acclaimed film does not require my approval. Overall impression: 65%. (04/04/2014)