deacon_blues-3
It's hard to tell what being human really is supposed to look like from these nebulous vignettes by Robin Williams. The best I can come up with is the above equation, but I don't really think that was his goal in this ill-advised attempt at a serious film about the subject.First, the narrators, far from provoking interest in the upcoming material, bore us to death with pretentious generalizations and leading questions until we no longer care much what's coming as long as it means they'll soon shut up for a while as the next vignette is dramatized.Second, Robin's recurring male character, Hector, presents us with a rather doubtful example of humanity, since he is out of step with the rest of his peers. How can Hector be a valid example when there are so many humans that contradict his character? Far from being an everyman, he is a marginal example at best. He never seems to aspire to anything higher than his own selfish desires. He takes advantage of people with nobler aspirations, and then wonders why they disparage him as a loser and a fool. If being human means being largely clueless about virtues, I guess that shows something, but I'm not buying it. Using a recurring male character as the focus of humanity seems also to be rather sexist, doesn't it?Then there's the whole question of whether reincarnation is implied..... Unfortunately, nothing in this film is consistent enough to say one way or the other. If Hector is being reincarnated, he's going to be at it for a long time, since he's not learning anything from one cycle to the next. He hates being a slave, but then becomes the same type of foolish master that he himself had in a previous incarnation. I think it's best to just not consider this question further, since either way this film proves nothing about being human either way.Bottom line, if Hector is being human, then count me out of humanity, PLEASE!
Lee Eisenberg
In one of his serious roles sans beard, Robin Williams stars in this somewhat confusing movie about a man portrayed in five different stories, always trying to find meaning in life...or something. Maybe the movie was trying to make a point about something, but I couldn't really tell. In a way, it almost seems like they made the movie for fun and just stacked the whole thing with a giant cast. Director Bill Forsyth, who had a very clear goal in making "Local Hero", seems somewhat confused himself here.I should identify that I didn't hate "Being Human". It's an interesting look at world history. It's just hard to get a grip on the movie. An OK way to pass time, but I wouldn't recommend making it your first choice. Also starring Theresa Russell, Robert Carlyle, John Turturro, Vincent D'Onofrio, Jonathan Hyde, Hector Elizondo, Ewan McGregor (in his debut) and William H. Macy.
skynet74
I Love Robin Williams. The Guy is simply Amazing. So when I took my girlfriend to see this Movie in the theater I thought we would both be in for a treat. Instead... we watched a train wreck. Both of us kept looking at each other in disappointment as we started to fall asleep. About 50 Minutes into it we actually walked out. We had to. We Both wanted to! This thing just wasn't getting any better. I have never walked out of a movie in my entire life..... until this movie came on the screen. The Movie "Being Human" is truly Horrible. However I do recommend that you Rent it just so that you can see how horrible it is for yourself. I highly recommend it for people who have trouble falling asleep. When pills won't work..... This movie will.
Theo Robertson
BEING HUMAN starts with two off screen characters in conversation with each other which does give the movie an unwanted light hearted tone . We`re then introduced to Hector ( Robin Williams ) who is looking after his two children in a period of history that feels like the dark ages . Then a ship sails into view which heralds danger . It was at this point that I thought the story was going to revolve around Hector and his children so it`s a shock to the system when later on in the movie the action switches to a shipwreck in the 16th century which again features Williams character . I could forgive this because the shipwreck story is so compelling with dozens of people facing certain death because all their supplies are running out and they`re a very long way from any type of civilisation . My heart was in my mouth wondering how these poor people were going to survive . We will never know how because the action then cuts to modern day America with Hector going through a divorce
So there you go three stories linked by someone played by Robin Williams that have no real connection with one another and I felt totally disgusted by the middle story featuring the shipwreck that comes to a complete halt without any type of resolution . Talk about feeling cheated . I should also point out that if the subtext of this movie is supposed to reflect what it`s like to be human then surely the characters and situations on screen don`t accurately reflect this . In fact there`s something arrogant about the whole idea behind this movie because every single feature film from the classics like THE GODFATHER , THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION and SCHINDLER`S LIST all the way through to straight to video fare like CROCODILE 2: DEATH SWAMP all deal with aspects of human nature . If you want to know what it`s like to be human watch any film not just this one . I doubt if I`ll be watching it again The only interest to be had by watching BEING HUMAN is spotting Ewan McGregor and Robert Carlysle before they became famous and several British actors before they got a role in THE BILL
AD
