Christopher Plummer, in one of the finest roles of his
storied career, portrays the classic actor John Barrymore; brother to Lionel
and Ethel; and the slave of alcohol. The movie is very simply set, with most of
the monologue; which the movie is, with the exception of the unseen “prompter”
who feeds him his lines when he strays off course; taking place in a vacant theater
which the aging actor has rented in order to stage a comeback that would never
take place.
In a brilliant screenplay, Mr. Plummer is allowed to float
seamlessly between the stage where the rehearsal takes place; and the dressing
room; to flights of fancy borne of the aging masters past experiences.
Sometimes you are not certain who he is, or where he is supposed to be
performing; but so did he. He was a man lost to himself, and Mr. Plummer does
such an excellent job of portraying him that I often found myself thinking that
I was watching the real John Barrymore in all his eccentric glory. He has that ability
to evoke the madness which raged within Mr. Barrymore, making him the one of
the most talented actors of our time.
Capturing all of the demons which haunted Mr. Barrymore; the
excesses and regrets; the writer has given all the room the actor needs in
which to rant and rave his way through this remarkable film. If you are a fan
of Mr. Plummer’s work, and a fan of Mr. Barrymore as well, then this will be a
double delight for you. And if you are unfamiliar
with the contradictions which were the man, then this film will have you
wishing to know even more.
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