What maybe came across as powerful on stage comes across as rather silly in this screen adaptation of the Peter Schaffer drama. Richard Burton plays a psychiatrist who is assigned the task of probing into the mind of a young man who mutilated (by blinding) a stable of horses. As he delves further and further into the mind of this troubled youth, we begin to realize that perhaps the lunatics are running the asylum.
Credit is due to Richard Burton for restraining himself nicely in the role of the doctor. Dangling a role like this in front of a notorious hammy overactor like Burton is like throwing a bleeding whale into a tank full of hungry sharks. I was just waiting for the acting frenzy to begin. But Burton retains control of himself and does manage to deliver a fairly haunting performance.
The most applause must go to Peter Firth in the role of the crazy young man, which he originated in the stage version. He's got a tough role, and not just because he must spend about half of his time buck naked, and some of THAT time riding a horse (ouch!). For those of you who complain that there's not enough male frontal nudity in films, "Equus" is the movie for you (though it may not be the kind of nudity you're hoping for). Nevertheless, Firth gives a powerful performance that almost makes sense of the obtuse and psycho-babblish screenplay.
Sidney Lumet is a fine director; he's one of those film directors whose movies don't always necessarily work, but who you can be sure will at least make his movies interesting. "Equus" is no exception. Oh it's interesting all right, but it's also turgid and overheated. And be warned---if you don't like seeing harm come to animals in movies, the scene where Peter Firth's character blinds the horses leaves nothing to the imagination.
Grade: B-
Credit is due to Richard Burton for restraining himself nicely in the role of the doctor. Dangling a role like this in front of a notorious hammy overactor like Burton is like throwing a bleeding whale into a tank full of hungry sharks. I was just waiting for the acting frenzy to begin. But Burton retains control of himself and does manage to deliver a fairly haunting performance.
The most applause must go to Peter Firth in the role of the crazy young man, which he originated in the stage version. He's got a tough role, and not just because he must spend about half of his time buck naked, and some of THAT time riding a horse (ouch!). For those of you who complain that there's not enough male frontal nudity in films, "Equus" is the movie for you (though it may not be the kind of nudity you're hoping for). Nevertheless, Firth gives a powerful performance that almost makes sense of the obtuse and psycho-babblish screenplay.
Sidney Lumet is a fine director; he's one of those film directors whose movies don't always necessarily work, but who you can be sure will at least make his movies interesting. "Equus" is no exception. Oh it's interesting all right, but it's also turgid and overheated. And be warned---if you don't like seeing harm come to animals in movies, the scene where Peter Firth's character blinds the horses leaves nothing to the imagination.
Grade: B-