Brandung

Of the works of Tennessee Williams, I am familiar with "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," "A Streetcar Named Desire," and The Glass Menagerie. They are all excellent dramatic texts that would be only devalued by their film adaptations through an unbelievable amount of incompetence. I assumed that even if a top-class playwright of international renown had a weaker moment, it would still result in a screenplay worthy of at least three stars, especially considering that the other ingredients seemed more than tempting. There was always a special chemistry between Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, in addition to Elizabeth essentially playing herself in this case, i.e., spoiled, self-centered, moody, and bossy, so she didn't really have to try at all, and the acting should have come naturally to her. Nevertheless, all of this resulted in an almost unwatchable monstrosity, where the only star I'm giving it is for the romantic backdrop of a Mediterranean island with a luxury villa from an architect with an unlimited imagination and budget. Unfortunately, it is self-centered, about as attractive as a visit to a pathology lab, and as stiff as a paraplegic's dance. If it were just filmed theater, I would dismiss it, but it is badly filmed theater. There really is nothing to appreciate about it. Overall impression: 25%. (17.01.2017)