It's hard to recommend a movie like "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" It is by no means an easy view. Set in minimal locations, mostly in a living room, the film is a constant emotionally harassing roller coaster. Aging couple George and Martha entertain a young couple after a night of drinking, but it soon turns into a game of searing at everyone's deepest, bitterest secrets. George and Martha are, quite frankly, vicious in their bashing of each other, and neither emerges at any time as true villain or hero. You come to understand, slowly, that something must have happened to this couple. Slowly, through the course of the film, you may find out what.
Elizabeth Taylor is beyond praise in her performance of the frightening Martha, an emotionally tortured woman who seems to be fighting a hidden pain. Richard Burton is perfect as her folly, George, whose verbal tactics are more controlled but every bit as biting. Both these characters have secrets that they wish to hide, and that we try to piece together the pieces of. This is a great movie, but expect to be satisfied with one view, because it will really take it out of you.
Elizabeth Taylor is beyond praise in her performance of the frightening Martha, an emotionally tortured woman who seems to be fighting a hidden pain. Richard Burton is perfect as her folly, George, whose verbal tactics are more controlled but every bit as biting. Both these characters have secrets that they wish to hide, and that we try to piece together the pieces of. This is a great movie, but expect to be satisfied with one view, because it will really take it out of you.