Friday 18 January 2008

They Might Be Giants (1971)

They Might Be Giants is one of those movies that you watch not expecting all that much but that ends up being a very pleasant surprise indeed. This is an utterly charming movie. Made in 1971 and directed by Anthony Harvey, it tells the story of a retired judge (George C. Scott) who believes he is Sherlock Holmes, and his psychiatrist, Dr Mildred Watson (Joanne Woodward). The movie raises questions about where we draw the line between madness and genius and fantasy and reality, and suggests that perhaps life needs a little madness. The chemistry between Scott and Woodward is extraordinary – they are an absolute delight. Scott gives one of the finest performances of his career – he is funny, he is touching, and he is magnetic. They Might Be Giants offers a mixture of humour, romance, intelligence and pathos. A wonderful little film that deserves to be much better known.

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