A BUNCH OF AMATEURS
UK, 2008, 96 minutes, Colour.
Burt Reynolds, Samantha Bond, Charles Durning, Derek Jacobi, Imelda Staunton.
Directed by Andy Cadif.
If anyone had told Burt Reynolds when he first appeared on television in 1959 that in half a century's time, he would be starring in a British comedy as an actor portraying King Lear, that 'anyone' would have had an enormous gift of prophecy. However, numerous films and television shows later, here is Burt doing precisely that.
Down on his luck, his career and the affection of his daughter and being panned by audiences as too old to be a screen action hero (of a nice series called ironically Ultimate Finality), he wants to fire his agent (a very old-looking Charles Durning, 86 in February 2009). The agent persuades him that a Shakespearian turn in Stratford would be just the thing to revive him. He doesn't mention that this Stratford is Stratford St John in Suffolk, an amateur group trying to save its theatre.
Reynolds has always been able to send himself up – and he does it here with knobs on. His manner is that of the spoilt Hollywood star who expects attention and luxury, which is not exactly available in Stratford St Johns. He boards with Imelda Staunton at a B & B, rehearses in a barn and looks down on all the locals who are eager to play Shakespeare. Things go from very bad to very worse and, though you know things will work out at the end, you are wondering for a long time just how they could.
This is quietly amusing British humour, the putting on a play English-village style.
Actually, the screenwriters also make the plot something of a parallel with King Lear itself. Burt is the grumpy Hollywood king who has been wayward with his career and lost his daughter. The villagers have quite a lot of lines straight out of the play to illustrate what is going on. And when Burt is finally driven away, he has a storm scene on a heath. While Burt is never going to be Olivier or anyone of that calibre, he has some good scenes which he puts heart and soul into as an American star having a go at playing King Lear. With Derek Jacobi in support, sending up his own orotund performances, there is some poking fun all round. It is up to Samantha Bond as the director to try to keep things on an even keel.
Brits putting on amateur theatricals has been a popular movie theme. There were Margaret Rutherford and Robert Morley in Curtain Up in the 1950s. In recent decades there have been Jeremy Irons and Anthony Hopkins in A Chorus of Disapproval, 1988, and in the mid-90s, Kenneth Branagh, Joan Collins and cast in In a Bleak Midwinter. Here is another pleasant addition to the list.
1.A pleasing UK comedy, traditional comedy, the English village, the theatre? The contrast with the United States, both admiration and critique?
2.The contrast between Stratford, Suffolk, the town and the countryside, the village life, the homes, the bed-and-breakfasts, the cowshed for the theatre? The American offices, Los Angeles, ballyhoo and hype?
3.Burt Reynolds as the fading star, his past, his series of action films, their failure, his needs, Burt Reynolds sending up himself? And Charles Durning?
4.Jefferson Steele as the star, watching the action show, the sequels, the audience criticising, his listening, the dent in his self-image? His clashes with his daughter? His reliance on his agent? Spoilt, his expectations? The prospect of a play in the United Kingdom, thinking it was Stratford-on-Avon? Believing his agent? His agent, secretary, the empty office space, doing a con job on Steele?
5.Steele and his flight, his manner on the plane, arrival, luggage, Dorothy as his driver, below his expectations? The bed-and-breakfast and his reaction to the room, throwing his weight around, his food demands? Unpleasant, with the locals? Their reaction?
6.The local theatre and its needs, to make some money to survive? Stratford? An American name, the press conferences, the hopes? The familiar story of British amateur theatricals?
7.The troupe: Dorothy, as the manager, her resourcefulness, coping, able to deal with people’s moods? Settling Steele in? The rehearsals? Exasperation, firing Steele? Mary, infatuated with Steele, running the bed-and-breakfast, fussing, buying the things he wanted, his disdain? Nigel, the pompous British actor – and Derek Jacobi sending up his image? Verity and her mother? Her illness?
8.The sponsor, the beer, his being puffed up, proud of his product, not being aware of culture, the meetings in the restaurant, discussions? His wife, her flair, trainer and massage, the compromising photo with Steele?
9.Steele’s inability to act, remember his lines, everyone’s exasperation, his being late, wanting a fuss made of him, the clashes with Nigel? Dorothy’s idea of getting him a trailer, transforming the mobile library?
10.Steele and his anger, being fired, drinking, the accident? Rescued by Dorothy? His planning the scheme – to capitalise on the tabloids and their love for scandals? The bogus scandals? The money for the theatre? The satire on British media?
11.Nigel, the confrontation, his huff, his being to blame for the fiasco?
12.Opening night, King Lear, Steele and his acting, Burt Reynolds’ ability with the Shakespearean lines? Verity’s collapse? His daughter, the TV news, flying to England, her arrival, stepping in, the success?
13.A very British comedy?
