Basements (1987 TV Movie) User Reviews

Brilliant!

[aldyn11 · 10 August 2001]

I am the first one to SPIT upon....really, I cannot stand pretentious crud -- spit upon art that pretends to be art...

Paintings of green with a yellow spot and selling for $250,000 (seriously), or boring movies and plays that border on insanity...BUT...Pinter's MASterpiece, The Dumb Waiter is indeed an 'absurdist' piece, but one that has a beginning, a middle and an end, and truly carries the viewer (or reader) through a psychological dialogue that ranks with Terry Gilliam's 'Brazil,' and Mamet's The Spanish Prisoner,' as films that take the absurdist and surreal genre and actually make films truly art-worthy.

I love the Dumb Waiter -- and ironically, fell in love with it during a college drama class -- I wrote at length about it because I had been one to rant about stupid wannabe pretentious theatre, art, music, etc. and realized that Pinter is truly an artist. Truly. Other pretenders do minimalistic work because they can't do more, but this is great -- and the best acting Travolta has done besides Pulp Fiction... ...oh, and Battlefield Earth...(just kidding)

Not worth the effort

[bohlo · 1/10 · 2 May 2000]

PLEASE NOTE: These comments contain SPOILERS!!

I rented this film with high hopes. Of course, that in itself is usually a recipe for disaster.

The play upon which the movie is based is very dear to me. I have performed in it and directed it three times. Given this, let make plain that I am not adverse to a director having a different vision than my own. That is to be expected and respected. The problem arises when the director has a vision that is counter to the work itself.

First of all, I take issue with the casting of John Travolta in the role of Ben. In the text it is noted that Ben is the senior partner. With that in mind it becomes very difficult to believe that Tom Conti, who clearly has at least 10 years on Mr. Travolta, is the junior partner. Mr. Conti comes off as the world's oldest rookie. The most disturbing aspect of Mr. Travolta's perfomance (or lack thereof) is his horrendous dialect. Mr. Travolta's Cockney makes Kevin Costner's in Robin Hood appear brilliant! One would think that Robert Altman would at least see that a decent dialect coach were hired.

The Dumb Waiter falls into a group of plays by Mr. Pinter that are known collectively as "Comedies of Menace." The setting is the basement of an abandoned building and, in my experience, provides a nicely clautrophobic atmosphere that heightens the sense of aforementioned "menace." For some reason, Mr. Altman chose to set the piece in a huge, airy, well-lit space. Picture the set for The Mary Tyler Moore Show, only bigger.

My final, and most damning criticism of the piece is the ending. HERE COMES THE SPOILER!!!!! In the original text, Mr. Pinter clearly leaves the ending ambiguous. The word comes from on high that the target of the hit is about to arrive. Suddenly, Gus, stripped of his weapon and clearly roughed up, is thrust into the room. Ben instinctually points his weapon at Gus. Blackout. The end. In the film, we hear (but do not see) the shot and, over the credits, the cleaners (think Harvey Keitel in Pulp Fiction) are seen going to the site of the hit. Part of the beauty of the original is the fact that Mr. Pinter doesn't answer the final question for the audience. Mr. Altman, in effect, condescends to the audience by making that decision for us (and for Ben).

There are far better adaptations of Mr. Pinter's work out there. Don't waste your time on this.

A major waste of time

[erik-36 · 1/10 · 9 December 1998]

I had to watch this movie for a college drama course, and the parts that I actually bothered to stay awake for were not worth it. The movie, which is based on a short drama, is just as bad on television as it is if you read it. There is no point to the entire story and I would rather bang my head against a wall for an hour than take the time to sit through it.

Annie Lennox can act

[amberbaer · 10/10 · 11 January 2006]

Okay - the other review of this show is for the birds - the person hasn't even seen it - so why comment on it - to this day I remember the segment called THE ROOM - Annie Lennox and Linda Hunt are brilliant together, dark and moody, I wish I could see this show again to bring out all the details that I remember from it.

Given that it was made for TV - it will probably never surface again - but someone, somewhere has to have this on tape or DVD by now - and when/if they release it - I will be one of the ones in line to add it to my collection to watch again and again.

John Travolta was in a career slump - but that was of his own doing - he should have read the scripts and not cashed the check during this point in his life, but he's since recovered from this point and done well indeed.

But it's always going to be the segment with Annie that strikes my memory - she's not just a truly gifted signer/songwriter/performer - she can act. Given that each of her videos from the Eurythmics is a bit of acting - it's nice to see her spread her wings and soar!

experimental short based on Pinter's play

[mglory67 · 8/10 · 22 March 2001]

This very weird short demonstrates the fine line to be drawn between talking and communicating.

All of the characters in this piece are not capable of communicating with one another. As a result, there is the expected confusion, and ultimate mayhem.

There is very little plot. It has something to do with a nervous chattering woman who may or may not have a hidden history with the man who lives in the basement.

Worth the time, but this is no slight diversion. Don't watch it if you can't devote your attention.

Tom Conti is Brilliant! Classic Pinter

[orwelles · 10/10 · 19 August 1999]

Altman really hit on a good thing with his short films written by Harold Pinter. The film effectively contrasts Conti's brilliant acting skills with the non-existent skills of John Travolta. Travolta's awful british accent is worth the price of admission alone! (I am sure this is all intentional - a real Altman touch) Travolta plays a hitman! And we all thought the Tarantino was the original one with that idea. A genius story that is excellently paced. For a great time, view this wonderful artistic piece.

Strangest John Travolta Movie I Have Ever Seen!!!

[amwbeatle · 26 December 2000]

Now, I am one of the biggest John Travolta fans on earth, I have all of his movies, except for ones not out of video. I just recently got this movie, and I STILL do not understand it after watching it three times. I got the movie off of e-bay because it is out of print. Was it worth what I paid? Yes, because I am a collector of all his movies. For a regular person who isn't interested in it for the actor, I would tell you not to dare waste your money and time.

ABC attempts to bridge art with mass entertainment

[mozli · 7 December 2003]

ABC TV network has from time to time tried to work with more serious artists. This was a big experiment and Lynch's TWIN PEAKS was another go round with middlebrow if not high brow offerings. WILD PALMS falls in this category as well. In all cases they would attract a few household names to generate interest in the projects.

I have not seen BASEMENTS. It was one of those projects I've always wanted to see because I am familiar with Harold Pinter. The fact that Travolta (who was in a career slump at the time and was reduced to appearing in cameos on SNL and Stevie Wonder videos)agreed to do it really intrigued me. Does anyone know where to find it?