THE ELEPHANT MAN; Full-Tilt Review

"My life is full because I know I am loved."

John Merrick 

A human being.

Synopsis:

This is the true-life story of  Joseph Merrick, a man born with a sever deformity, forced into an impoverished existence of cruelty on the streets of Victorian London. That is, till a chance encounter with kindly hospital surgeon Frederick Treves,  who, after finding Merrick performing in a freaks-show, takes the man under his protection.

Script: 1/2 - lacks subtlety but makes its point

Pace: 1/2 - sufficient, if a little meandering

Acting: 2/2 - heartbreaking performances

Aesthetic: 2/2 - haunting use of black-and-white

Intention: 2/2 - a tear-jerking meditation on compassion and cruelty

Final Word: 8/10

Director David Lynch, better known for his surreal works (including the cult TV show Twin Peaks), dials back on bizarre and delivers arguably his most conformist film. 
While the director certainly demonstrates a keen insight into human behavior, and despite the odd moment of trademark surrealism, the film does suffer from feeling rather 'flat'. Having said that, it's the cast that do heavy lifting here, not the director or the screenwriter, and everyone involved brings more than their A-game. John Hurt, as the tortured yet humble Merrick, is a master class in body language and tone (his prosthetic making any sort of facial expression unreognisbale), and Anthony Hopkins as Merrick's friend and surgeon wisely underplays his role, turning instead to shades of grey- a man of compassion, even though his initial kindness may have stemmed initially from professional curiosity and ambition. Embracing Treve's faults allows Hopkins to bring inner-conflict into the later part of their relationship, and rounds the surgeon's character nicely, rather than painting him as a "white knight". John Gielgud is excellent as the wry hospital governor, and both Freddie Jones and Michael Elphick are on fine form, embodying the sleaze, corruption and cruelty of the Victorian era.
It's not an easy film to endure by any means, but humanity eventually prevails despite tragic circumstances- The Elephant Man is a film that celebrates the best of human nature, while exposing some of the worst of it.