Being There

Name: Being There
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: December 19, 1979
Duration: 130 min
Rating: 83
Cast: David Clennon, Denise DuBarry, Fran Brill, Jack Warden, Melvyn Douglas

1979

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 16 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 22 Ratings

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7.6

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7.6	Your Score
7.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 22 Ratings

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Being There

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Movie Details & Credits

United Artists | Release Date: December 19, 1979 | TV-PG

Starring: David Clennon, Denise DuBarry, Fran Brill, Jack Warden, Melvyn Douglas, Peter Sellers, Richard Basehart, Richard Dysart, Ruth Attaway, Shirley MacLaine

Summary: A simple, sheltered gardener becomes an unlikely trusted advisor to a powerful businessman and an insider in Washington politics.

Director: Hal Ashby

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: TV-PG

Runtime: 130 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Roger Ebert

It's a movie based on an idea, and all the conventional wisdom agrees that emotions, not ideas, are the best to make movies from. But Being There pulls off its long shot and is one of the most confoundingly provocative movies of the year. Read full review

100

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

Jerzy Kosinski's modern fable gets a terrific translation to the screen due to his tight screenplay, capable direction by Ashby, and a marvelous performance by Sellers, one unlike any other in his career. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

Being There is a highly unusual and an unusually fine film. A faithful but nonetheless imaginative adaptation of Jerzy Kosinski's quirky comic novel, pic marks a significant achievement for director Hal Ashby and represents Peter Sellers' most smashing work since the mid-1960s. Read full review

Janet Maslin

Hal Ashby directs Being There at an unruffled, elegant pace, the better to let Mr. Sellers's double-edged mannerisms make their full impression upon the audience. Read full review

Empire Ian Nathan

A placid, poignant, well-kept secret of a movie. Read full review

Dave Kehr

The director, Hal Ashby, has affected a restrained, understated style to match the subtlety and precision of Sellers's performance. No one seems to know what to do with the allegorical undertone of Jerzy Kosinski's script, but as a whole this 1979 film maintains a fine level of wit, sophistication, and insight. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

Sellers's performance—as the innocent neuter figure who rises accidentally to political power on the strength of vacant homilies—is remarkable. But Ashby's direction is marred by the same softness that made The Last Detail and Coming Home so morally bland. Read full review

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User Reviews

Compi24

May 1, 2019

Easily the crown jewel in the many-ornamented crown that is Peter Sellers' career, Hal Ashby's "Being There" is one of those incredibly subtle acts of ironical dance-work that honestly puts a lot into perspective for you the viewer. Using the film's severely psychologically disabledEasily the crown jewel in the many-ornamented crown that is Peter Sellers' career, Hal Ashby's "Being There" is one of those incredibly subtle acts of ironical dance-work that honestly puts a lot into perspective for you the viewer. Using the film's severely psychologically disabled protagonist as both a means to confirm and challenge the eccentricities of the American public, it's almost as if this movie is supposed to act as a blistering hot satire, a tender and sensitive drama, and a thematically enriching Rorschach test all in one. It's honestly one of those movies that's too intricate and sophisticated to try and break down. So check it out for yourself. There'll surely be something about the film you won't regret witnessing.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

DawdlingPoet

Nov 21, 2021

This is a very quirky and quite subtle film. Its a comedy of sorts - definitely a very dry comedy, not a visual, big belly laugh type of a comedy but I enjoyed it for being something a little different. Sellers does well portraying a slightly confused and unsure person, someone isThis is a very quirky and quite subtle film. Its a comedy of sorts - definitely a very dry comedy, not a visual, big belly laugh type of a comedy but I enjoyed it for being something a little different. Sellers does well portraying a slightly confused and unsure person, someone is just...well, being there, although he is also seemingly quite knowledgable, someone who it appears knows more than perhaps he realises himself. The plot is, I think its fair to say, somewhat hard to believe but I found it amusing in terms of knowing more, as a viewer, of Chance's situation as depicted at the start of the film, so seeing people misinterpret him was certainly amusing. There is a definite element of social awkwardness present, often in relation to the upper social classes, which I found amusing. I liked this film and I'd recommend it to others, as something a little different. It has a surreal feel about it. I'd also say its a relatively memorable film as well.… Expand

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