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Movies / On DVD / Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

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Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)

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97 %
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Reviews Counted: 30

Fresh: 29

Rotten:1

Average Rating: 8.6/10

Runtime: 2 hrs 13 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: Turning the underbelly of bourgeois academia into a microcosm of human relationships in all their arduous complexities, Mike Nichols' auspicious debut feature is a harrowing descent into the... Turning the underbelly of bourgeois academia into a microcosm of human relationships in all their arduous complexities, Mike Nichols' auspicious debut feature is a harrowing descent into the private lives and painful secrets of two couples thrown together for an evening. Based on the controversial play by Edward Albee, this noir-ish 1966 drama stars former real-life couple Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, in what many critics consider to be their best performances. George (Burton) is a senior professor of history who has turned to alcohol to deal with his vituperative, vicious wife Martha (Taylor), whose appetite for administering abuse knows no bounds. Invited to the couple's home for late-night drinks are new professor Nick (George Segal), and his naïve wife Honey (Sandy Dennis), where over the course of the evening, the polished veneer of the hosts tarnishes grotesquely. The witty repartee of consummate sophisticate Martha degenerates into increasingly violent verbal abuse of both her husband and guests, while George's stoic façade crumbles both physically and emotionally. The horrified Nick and Honey initially come off as happier foils to the misery of the older married couple, but the guests are soon mirroring George and Martha in their mutual antagonism, giving voice to buried resentments and alcohol-fueled revelations of repressed injuries. A director with a reputation for delivering intelligent, "adult" films, Nichols made a remarkably smooth and successful transition from stage to screen with this adaptation of Albee's already-notorious play. Screenwriter Ernest Lehman kept the text of the play virtually intact, maintaining the intensity and sheer violence of the frankly foul language. The film shocked audiences, presenting them with a tortuous foray into a love-hate relationship and, ultimately, mental illness. WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? received Academy Award nominations in virtually every category it was eligible for, winning five of them. [More]

Starring: Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, George Segal, Sandy Dennis

Starring: Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, George Segal, Sandy Dennis, Nichelle Nichols

Director: Mike Nichols

Director: Mike Nichols
Screenwriter: Ernest Lehman
Composer: Alex North

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Release:

Nov 7, 2008

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Reviews for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

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1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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If one examines Albee's The Zoo Story, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, and Tiny Alice as three views of the struggle for faith and the Christ myth and its nuances, the plays, on a particular level, gain a substantial meaning.

Full Review Source: tonymacklin.net | comment Comment
03/03/09
Tony Macklin
tonymacklin.net

Scathing scream of a black comedy that's based on a play by Edward Albee.

Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | comment Comment
11/02/08
Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Director Nichols, in his auspicious Hollywood debut, and scripter Ernest Lehman smartly keep Albee's corrosively witty black comedy intact, allowing their ensmeble, including Liz Taylor, to dig deep and turn intensely entertaining performances.

Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | comment Comment
06/29/07
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

Strong stuff, intensely watchable, but definitely not for children.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
06/28/07
TV Guide's Movie Guide
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

When Nichols finally settles down, it's almost too late.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment 1 Comment
06/28/07
Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A merciless dissection of the intellectual's disease of ennui and gamesmanship.

Full Review Source: Film Freak Central | comment Comment
02/11/07
Walter Chaw
Film Freak Central

Edward Albee's vitriolic stage portrayal of domestic blisslessness translated grainily and effectively to the screen.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
02/11/06
Geoff Andrew
Time Out

Perfect.

comment Comment
10/10/05
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com

One of the great directorial debuts in film history...

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
07/28/05
Christopher Null
Filmcritic.com

No review available.

comment Comment
06/16/05
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

comment Comment
11/19/04
Robin Clifford
Reeling Reviews

Great cast plus great script equals great movie! Liz and Dick at their best.

comment Comment
11/11/04
Michael A. Smith
Nolan's Pop Culture Review

No review available.

comment Comment
11/04/04
Jake Euker
F5 (Wichita, KS)

No review available.

comment Comment
08/04/04
Linda Cook
Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)

No review available.

comment Comment
06/04/04
Sarah Chauncey
Reel.com

No review available.

comment Comment
02/21/04
Frank Swietek
One Guy's Opinion

No review available.

comment Comment
01/14/04
Arthur Lazere
culturevulture.net

They [Taylor and Burton] spark, shock, hurt, and shout down everyone they love, but mostly each other in this groundbreaking look at lovers and other strangers.

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
10/01/03
Austin Chronicle
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

No review available.

comment Comment
09/05/03
Carol Cling
Las Vegas Review-Journal

No review available.

comment Comment
05/31/03
Laura Clifford
Reeling Reviews
 
 
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