MovieChat Forums > Whose Life Is It Anyway? (1982) Discussion > The hardest movie I ever sat through

The hardest movie I ever sat through

posted 14 years ago by micaofboca-1
7 replies | jump to latest

This in no way ameliorates my respect for the film, but the dialogue that Richard Dreyfus delivered was the most excruciatingly painful scripting I've ever heard. It's so heart-rendering that the empathy you feel for the man is just too much for me to handle. I wouldn't even sit through the movie again were it to appear on television. I can remember feeling ill over it for a week. Sometimes the drama is so intense it just doesn't make sense in my watching it as it goes beyond drama and arouses feelings thoughts and emotions that aren't necessarily a good thing for the viewer. For instance, if a film were made showing the actual atrocities committed by war criminals and broke through the dramatic representation and touched nerve centers that hurt intensely, I think I'd rather pass than be witness to the very edge of human tolerance and strength. This movie, as excellent as it was, broke through that barrier and left me emotionally drained and psychologically depressed until the memories of those feelings had dissipated merely by the passing of time.

[–] BILLWILL-1 14 years ago

I completely agree. It is an excellent film that I will never watch again. I remember seeing this when I was a kid and it haunted me. It affected me for days. This movie and "David", the TV movie about the boy set on fire by his father. Scared the sh!t out of me. Of course, this movie is of a higher caliber, but the impact is still the same. I actually haven't thought of this movie in years until today.

[–] suzypulledapistol 13 years ago

I saw it for the first time recently and think it is an absolutely great film. I think you should watch it again. It will be a different experience, that's for sure.

[ Dave, my mind is going. I can feel it. ]

[–] BrissyBrett 13 years ago

I've just got it on dvd after about 15 years of not having seen it. Dreyfuss is simply amazing, but what is more amazing is that dreyfuss played the part at the height of his drug use/alcholism and he (to this day) does'nt remember filming it.

[–] megafauna005 13 years ago

CassyJane NO WAY!! Are you serious?? Link please?

[–] WarpedRecord 13 years ago

I was actually surprised at how "normal" Richard Dreyfuss looks in this film, considering his drug history. Four years earlier, in "The Goodbye Girl," he was sniffing a lot and his eyes were very red. I have to say he's never been one of my favorite actors, but he gives a remarkable performance here.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] WarpedRecord 13 years ago

I would absolutely loved to have seen MTM as the lead in this on Broadway, or even on film. My problem with Richard Dreyfuss here (anywhere, really) is that it's hard to see him as a sympathetic character. Mary can play sympathetic as well as the other side. She was right on the verge of a major film career with "Ordinary People" at the start of the decade, but she followed it up with forgettable (though entertaining) soapers like "Six Weeks" and "Just Between Friends," and from there it back back to (failed) TV vehicles. What a disappointing latter half of her career, "Flirting With Disaster" notwithstanding.

I would love to see this onstage with anyone, because I'm sure it works much better as a play than as a movie. I saw Judith Light onstage in the similarly-themed "Wit," and her superb performance made me forget about "Who's the Whatzit" co-starring Tony Whoozit.