MovieChat Forums > Equus (1977) Discussion > 1970's pretentious 'psycho-babble'

1970's pretentious 'psycho-babble'

posted 11 years ago by zooeyhall
6 replies | jump to latest

Saw this movie when it came out back in 1977, and was unimpressed. I can't understand either then or now why some people think this film is so great.

It's full of the pretentious Hollywood pop-psychology that was so in vogue during the 70's. Basically the movie is about two guys who babble and shout a lot.

Sometimes, stage plays do NOT migrate successfully to the big screen. What might pass as "stylistic" in a live theater setting just looks confusing and/or ridiculous on film. Impassioned speeches to a live audience, when transferred to film, can come across as incoherent, lunatic ravings.

The much-talked-about nude scenes are overrated.

The only thing I remember clearly about this film 35 years later is the horrifying scenes of animal abuse. Even if only simulated for a film, they kill any sympathy for any of the ridiculous characters in this film.

[–] talkinhorse 11 years ago

Years ago, I saw several staged productions as well as this film.

I first saw it when I was at a more impressionable age, and found it powerful and profound. Later in life, I'm thinking, yeah, maybe gimmicky and bombastic. Or maybe not.

The odd thing was that some productions seemed to hit like a sledgehammer, and others were misfires. I can't say exactly why, but subtle differences in the renderings made it work or not. My sense was that this film was something of a misfire.

Haven't seen it for many years. Hmmm, if anyone mounts a serious stage production, I suppose I should check it out.

[–] MrBlondee 10 years ago

Just seen it for the first time and I believe it's close to a masterpiece. Keep your labels to yourself, Prince.

[–] HuGoL1101 9 years ago

I just watched it and yeah, I believe it's close to a masterpiece. At least, this movie recalls me why I love cinema! It was an excellent movie!

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] brefane 9 years ago

Agree with the OP. Firth, recreating his stage role, is excellent. The film is realistic where the stage production with people wearing horses heads was highly stylized. The film at 133mins. has some effective and or disturbing scenes,but Burton's 6 or 7 elocutionary rants addressed directly to the camera become tedious psycho babble.

[–] ptuk-1 7 years ago

I found the story quite ridiculous really, I mean all that because a kid didn't have enough sense to say sorry love the horses are giving me the creeps can we go somewhere else, I mean I know we English are seen as sexually repressed but come on, that kid was a *beep* idiot and his parents where worse.