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Not Only But Always

posted 19 years ago by andrew-smith-3
7 replies | jump to latest

I watched the film with my friend who didn't know much about Cook and Moore - I had to stop myself from explaining the meaning of each scene and the coded references to their lives and careers, which was the only intriguing exercise I got from watching it. My niggle with this, with Terry Johnson, and with the one-dimensional 'Cor Blimey',is the way the actors put all their energy in to impersonating the comedians - and Johnson relies on this novelty rather than giving credit to a hilarious and harrowing story of friendship, jealousy, sex,insecurity, love, success and failure.

I'd rather have seen two great performances that didn't get the voice and facial gestures right than the empty and self conscious parody that Johnson obsesses himself with. I can identify with him - I've been through my own obsession with comedians and their public and private masks, but I've got over it. I never expected a true, accurate or particularly important tribute to Cook, but I did expect to feel something new about someone who I never knew but still can't help feeling disappointed for.

And what was with the excrutiating choir boys at the end?!

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] AnnieKay 19 years ago

I certainly found that choir scene immensely moving. These were two friends riven by jealousy and resentment - now one was dead and the other realising, all too late, that life really IS too short. There certainly wasn't a dry eye in MY house.

[–] OggieBoogieBoy 19 years ago

Ifans played cook brilliantly. Almost all the people that knew him say he was just like that, infuriating and engaging, always 'on' as it were.

[–] eday-3 18 years ago

I must agree with Oggie above me. I have never appreciated Ifans enough, untill i saw the remarkable work he has done in this film. He certinly manages to get to the heart of Cook's public persona, while bringing in much intense darkness feel, that seems at times personal.(the derek and clive recording sessions recreation has almost a documentary fell to it).
i care less for the inspired editing, and i suspect that the script owes most of it to the master's own voice.
but on the whole, i enjoyed this film, and it had surly raised my intrest in cook's comedy, as well as my appreceation to his pivotal historic place in the invention and development of what's known as "british humor".

[–] am_buglet_82 18 years ago

Isn't Peter Cook the "Impressive Clergyman" in The Princess Bride?

That's the only thing I've ever seen him in!

I'd like to see this movie (I'm a Rhys fan).

Is it easy to find?

-Amanda

"She will remember your heart when men are fairy tales in storybooks written by rabbits"

[–] hansenslondon 17 years ago

Yep, that's him all right. His best work was his stage and television work with Dudley Moore and Beyond the Fringe. Get the CD's, I'd advise. The films were patchy, but I have a soft spot for Bedazzled (the original - 1967) and The Wrong Box.

[–] trevorwomble 17 years ago

Don't forget he was also King Richard in the first episode of the first series of Blackadder!

Watching this did make me wonder why a best of Peter Cook video was never made. The scene at the amnesty international concert that Ifans impersonates was absolutely hilarious and reminded us of just what a comic genius Cook could be.