MovieChat Forums > The Life and Death of Peter Sellers (2004) Discussion > Depiction of Sellers.

Depiction of Sellers.

posted 15 years ago by Kinski_Twist
5 replies | jump to latest

I was completely baffled by the tone of this film. I'm against mindless laudatory biopics, but this went to the other extreme a bit! It was as if the writers and filmmakers really had it in for Sellers, showing every possible negative thing about him and even making some stuff up and not showing a single good thing about him.

I'm not exaggerating when I say that Hitler was portrayed as a nicer guy in Downfall. Really, I'm not.

And I haven't seen House of Saddam, but I'd wager a few notes that Mr Hussein was given a more rounded character as well.

[–] gilknut 15 years ago

I agree, it does come across as overly negative.

Or rather, it's not negative *enough* where it needs to be, but instead it seems all over slightly negative from beginning to end. Which perhaps is right from some people's point of view when reviewing his life, but simply seems depressing for a "normal" viewer who regards him as one of the great geniuses of acting and comedy on screen.

It's not a bad movie at all, but I wish they'd called it "50 Depressing Facts You Might Not Have Known About Peter Sellers".

Geoffrey Rush on the other hand, is nothing short of brilliant in his portrayal.

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] Gwasgray 15 years ago

This film was based on a biography by Roger Lewis, which Michael Sellers (Peter's son) denounced as "400 pages of rubbish". I believe Michael (sadly now deceased) has frequently tried to defend his father's name but I've read the book he wrote, "Sellers on Sellers" and it's still full of anecdotes that make his father look like a rather strange, neurotic, volatile man and certainly not what most people would think of as a good father. It seems he had a nice side and a nasty side to his personality, and shifted between them like the weather changes. I'm not an expert on Sellers but from what I've read it seems the film is fairly accurate about his general personality.

But he clearly had amazing talent, we're used to seeing comic actors doing various different characters nowadays but I don't there were many performers like him in his day. That's why I think he was still special.

[–] dweediecat 15 years ago

Anyone who has had a narcissist in their life can attest that narcs always keep you guessing as to whether they have a human heart or not.

A terrible personality disorder for which it seems Mr. Sellers never saw a psychiatrist.

Or maybe he did - and like someone disgnosed with schizophrenia, just had to try to find a way to COPE. In any event, it is a very accurate portrayal of someone with that disease. And a controlling mother.

It seemed to me that Sellers was trying to identify with the simpleness and selflessness of his father in his quest to portray Chauncy Gardener.

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A wonderful script, brilliantly filmed. Rush was fabulous as was Emily Watson and Charlize Theron. The makeup artists deserve a shout-out, too.

[–] Lord-Z 13 years ago

There are two things always said about Sellers, when you ask those who knew him: Comedic Genius and Terrible Person. Britt Ekland has said that this movie didn't make him out to be enough of a monster. His son has said that Sellers alienated everyone who cared for him. During a breakdown, Spike Milligan, one of his best friends, tried to break into Sellers apartment to stab him with a potatoknife, because Sellers was being his "usual selfish self". He was able to have friends and relationships, even if most of his marriages were short, but he was definently an aquired taste.

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