Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? - 1969 ****

In memory of the beautiful Liz Taylor who died only recently I decided to watch this, now probably one of her most famous movies.

All I can say is that this is not a movie for a depressed person, spending time with these characters will make you want to top yourself, but if you are in the mood for something edgy and exceptionally acted then this maybe the film for you.

Richard Burton is actually brilliant in his dry wit and snappy comebacks and Liz Taylor plays the part of a depressed, distraught alcoholic who cannot see anything good in her life, or in her relationship with her college professor husband.

How the couple come to be with each other throughout the movie and stand by each other is almost absurd, because they clearly despise each other immensely and enjoy hurling insults at each other. Clearly an emotionally disfunctional relationship which we understand about deeper into the film. There is a lot of hidden tension here that we don't get to see under the manicaly screaming and swearing, and there are many hidden layers that have to be carefully unravelled to really enjoy the film to it's fullest. It is tempting to just see the movie as a couple who shout at each other and have drinking problems when actually there is so much more of it.

Burton and Taylor together are outstanding.