A Merry War (Keep the Aspidistra Flying) (1998)
Harriet Walter, Helena Bonham Carter, Jim Carter, Lill Roughley (II), Richard E. Grant
Gordon Comstock is a copywriter at an ad agency where his girlfriend Rosemary is a designer. He promptly resigns to become "a poet and a free man." Although many of his friends express reservations, Gordon is not to be detered in his determination to write and lodges in a one-room apartment while wo... (read more) Gordon Comstock is a copywriter at an ad agency where his girlfriend Rosemary is a designer. He promptly resigns to become "a poet and a free man." Although many of his friends express reservations, Gordon is not to be detered in his determination to write and lodges in a one-room apartment while working in a bookstore. However, the glamour of being a penniless artist wears off quickly when the rejection slips begin to arrive. Not until Gordon experiences real poverty in a grungy working-class district away from his supportive friends does he grow up and make some real life choices.
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PG-13, 101 min.
Directed by:
Robert Bierman,
Stuart Paul
Release Date: Aug 28, 1998
DVD Release Date: Jun 01, 1999
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Makes you feel what it might have been like living in the 30s in Art Deco London. Orwell's an astute observer of human nature, and storyteller. Terrific musical score, too.
Richard E Grant and Helena Bonham Carter enjoy a quirky chemistry in this tale of a copywriter come poet who wants to free his creative soul. Not unlike his role in Withnail & I, Grant's performance comes very close to being melodramatic, but he pull... (read more) Richard E Grant and Helena Bonham Carter enjoy a quirky chemistry in this tale of a copywriter come poet who wants to free his creative soul. Not unlike his role in Withnail & I, Grant's performance comes very close to being melodramatic, but he pulls it off. A good date movie.
Fanastic film with great acting (apart from Helena-bloody-Bonham-Carter)!
Not at all faithful to Orwell's work, but a very enjoyable film that bears repeat viewing.
Shamelessly splicing Blake poetry into advertisements for money. That's how it ends.
Based on George Orwell's book. Good one for Richard E Grant fans... like me! It's a forerunner to Trainspotting and just as gritty in parts... quite comic too, in fact mostly comic! Richard E Grant and Helena Bonham Carter are very good. It's not l... (read more) Based on George Orwell's book. Good one for Richard E Grant fans... like me! It's a forerunner to Trainspotting and just as gritty in parts... quite comic too, in fact mostly comic! Richard E Grant and Helena Bonham Carter are very good. It's not lightweight. Be good to hear what others think... :0)
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