I like films of Hal Ashby. And this is not some sort of snobbery that moved caused me a desire to proudly say my taste for the work of American filmmaker rather forgotten 70s. He prefers to many other filmmakers of that era, that I would be very cumbersome to quote but you all know, in comparison, seems like a Hal Ashby film talent and the importance somewhat despised. No, I like his films, period. And obviously, I imagine far from alone. Actually, Hal Ashby's even more like being fashionable among a fringe of actors and directors claiming to belong to a certain cinema "independent" U.S.. Personally, I find his films often beautiful, funny, poignant and always intelligent. Besides, in any case, and all marked with the same sensitivity. I've already talked about The Last Detail, which is probably my favorite, and I shall now say a few words of Being There, perhaps his most famous film, I looked very recently, and that no exception to the rule. Hal Ashby here tells the story of a naive and simple man (fool, one might almost say) who has lived all his life in seclusion, spending his time taking care of a garden, especially watching television. This man named Chance, played by Peter Sellers, was forced to leave his little bubble following the death of his boss, the owner of the house where he lived peacefully. A little unfortunate accident led him then to be hosted at the home of an elderly businessman and influential in the gates of death (Melvyn Douglas) and his lovely wife of 50 years his junior (Shirley MacLaine). The first, to cope with the disease, found in him a spring of healing in these last hours of suffering, and second, perhaps in need of love, it is quite irresistible charm gradually. The vast house where he was invited to stay indefinitely, Chance will go to the highest echelons of power and even meet the President of the United States, including the sick old man is a close adviser. The always calm and serene attitude of Chance will go for a foolproof wisdom gained following the alleged evils that would traversed in reality born of misunderstanding that does not even bother to correct. Always dressed to the nines and look very serious, his luck will be taken to the few words as oracles reassuring, proverbs and metaphors light lit, so it is just talking calmly to his knowledge in gardening.
That is a remote control that Peter Sellers, staring at his screen, is so firmly in his hands, remaining insensitive to the charms of Shirley MacLaine few readings made fast on the internet allowed me to see that Being There is often closer to the Forrest Gump Robert Zemeckis. The only common nature of these two films is that they depict a main character in abnormally low IQ which will more or less accidentally, posing as a hero of the nation. While apparently a common size, but ultimately rather superficial since, beyond this simple statement of fact, the films have little to do. Other readings have also taught me was Hal Ashby's character Chance the equivalent of a God or at least a saint, especially because the last plane of the film shows us a semblance Peter Sellers walking on water. But that demonstrate a narrow-minded and completely ignore what Hal Ashby seems we demonstrate throughout his film. The filmmaker, that we may have been more inspired, more relaxed, seems here to draw a portrait of an America finally scary exit-war boom in economic recession, which the President is a man sure of himself and stinking who can not stand to be upstaged. The state of the country is so desperate that its population comes to hang in cryptic phrases falsely broadcast by television character quickly pushed under the spotlight, which only unconsciousness and simplicity allows it to be quite happy. Peter Sellers, extraordinary in one of his last roles, in fact represents the only character completely happy with the film. I'm not "blossomed" since the word is too strong for this unique character that also carries a certain sadness, a gentle melancholy worn by his strange lightness and emphasized by the music of Erik Satie accompanying regularly.
Do it enough to know not to shake hands and well get on TV to start a successful political career? Returning to the benefit of Peter Sellers. The actor is at the origin of the film since it was he who made efforts to obtain the rights to the book he is adapting and he presented the project directly to Hal Ashby. Peter Sellers is a particularly significant role by allowing it to show all his talents as a dramatic actor seriously. When we watch the film, we may expect that makes comic actor, not missing the opportunities that come to disrupt the smooth running of a TV show, a meal or a meeting worldly prestige. But that never happens, because Peter Sellers gives his character a real existence, a real credibility, even when he delivers a well despite his line of dialogue actually funny. I think for example in the elevator gag, where her character makes stupid remarks caused solely by his extreme ignorance. The actor seems to wear a mask of placidity, or have finally defeated his comic mask, he who was so often sentenced to laugh, to exuberance.
little glimpse of the last scene of the film The direction of Hal Ashby, like I said, rarely surprising. Thus, the filmmaker recalls only in very exceptional fantasy that lives permanently a movie like Harold and Maude , not least during the first night on the town of Luck, who is on the famous song by Richard Strauss ago immortalized by the 2001 Stanley Kubrick . Looks like Hal Ashby has set very flatly film history and, above all, his incredible character, likely to be, somehow, its image and better capture or reinforce feelings that it gives off. The filmmaker retains all his talent and no shortage of achieving a certain poetry. A poetry which culminated in the famous final shot, indeed ambiguous, where one sees so Chance advance on a pond, surprising then to push forward his umbrella beside him, while is the pronounced phrase "Life is a state of mind," the last words of the old man that has overcome the disease. Buoyed by luck or by His holiness, it is not known, the character may very well change over a submerged jetty as he can actually walk on water. Still, the end credits begin with the phrase "A story of luck," before marching past the outtakes of a deleted scenes, just to remind us, though, all the comic talent of Peter Sellers. I think the Hal Ashby film seems rather ridicule and criticize harshly enough American society and the turn it takes in the late 70s, with a fairly serious and caustic humor. A society whose need to be reassured is so strong that it can consider the words of a simple-minded as many predictions as bright and able to carry that same individual, as we suggested in the last scene. The end, this final image, is perhaps to drive the point home, showing us in a single plane of double-image of this innocent man-child deeply, both seen as the equivalent of a holy and beneficent which is also a simple-minded only carried by a lucky non-standard. A character who happy to be there, Being There is the original title. Being There is in all cases a very beautiful film, and especially the portrait of an unforgettable character.
Being There by Hal Ashby Peter Sellers, Shirley MacLaine, Melvyn Douglas and Jack Warden (1979)
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