I had gone into this movie with high hopes. My Tivo had recorded it off of TCM, and I figured if it had a top rating it must have something going for it.
I was profoundly disappointed. I never walk out on a film, but I almost turned this one off halfway through. Badly lit scenes, sloppy camera-work, really odd editing choices, nonsensical transitions - it definitely felt like a '60s "modern" feature, and not in a good way.
A few members of the all-star ensemble cast mugged for the camera and chewed scenery. The rest were given nothing to work with. I think this was supposed to be a lighthearted, playful romp, but the whole thing was really weighed down by the heavy-handed dialogue.
As for the lead, I didn't like him. I know I'm not meant to like every character that comes along, but I truly did not understand why I should care anything about this guy, let alone sympathize with him or appreciate the irony/satirizing of the Upper Class his story represents. From what I had heard of the film, I had expected a lot more slapstick sexual encounters and pillow talk. Instead I get a romance novel with less interesting plot lines.
Throughout my viewing of this film, I could not help but compare it to another famous "Young Englishman Makes His Way In The World" film, Stanley Kubrick's 'Barry Lyndon.' That movie is an order of magnitude superior to Tom Jones in just about every aspect, especially visually. I wasn't expecting to like that film - after seeing it, thought, it became one of my all-time favorites. I feel the opposite about 'Tom Jones.'
I was profoundly disappointed. I never walk out on a film, but I almost turned this one off halfway through. Badly lit scenes, sloppy camera-work, really odd editing choices, nonsensical transitions - it definitely felt like a '60s "modern" feature, and not in a good way.
A few members of the all-star ensemble cast mugged for the camera and chewed scenery. The rest were given nothing to work with. I think this was supposed to be a lighthearted, playful romp, but the whole thing was really weighed down by the heavy-handed dialogue.
As for the lead, I didn't like him. I know I'm not meant to like every character that comes along, but I truly did not understand why I should care anything about this guy, let alone sympathize with him or appreciate the irony/satirizing of the Upper Class his story represents. From what I had heard of the film, I had expected a lot more slapstick sexual encounters and pillow talk. Instead I get a romance novel with less interesting plot lines.
Throughout my viewing of this film, I could not help but compare it to another famous "Young Englishman Makes His Way In The World" film, Stanley Kubrick's 'Barry Lyndon.' That movie is an order of magnitude superior to Tom Jones in just about every aspect, especially visually. I wasn't expecting to like that film - after seeing it, thought, it became one of my all-time favorites. I feel the opposite about 'Tom Jones.'