Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story - Movie Review

Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story 2005

“Men are tormented with the Opinions they have of Things, and not by the Things themselves.” - From the original frontispiece to the novel, “The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman.” [Encheiridion (Manual) of the Stoic Epictetus.]

Since movies first began casting their magical spell upon us, moviemakers have often been willing and quite able at casting a penetrating gaze at themselves. Whether it is the simple acknowledgement of the existence of the camera (our favorite such moment is still the classic double takes in “Tom Jones”) or a full fledged examination of the backstage shenanigans to be found on a soundstage. Over the years there have been some wonderful films that place their storylines around the art of filmmaking. From “Show People”, “What Price Hollywood?”, “A Star is Born”, “Sullivan’s Travels”, “Sunset Blvd.”, “The Bad and the Beautiful” to the brilliant musical remake of “A Star is Born” – the drama of Hollywood can make for some thrilling Hollywood dramas.

These classic movies emerged from the heady and glittering heyday of the Studio years when the Hollywood Dream Factory spun out marvels on a regular basis. After the de-monopolizing fallout that helped ring down the curtain on the Golden Age of Hollywood, the post-modernist filmmakers began to take their own crack at the lore of moviemaking, with somewhat harsher but no less classic results. In 1963, two of the greatest – Federico Fellini and Jean-Luc Godard both framed their “Films About Films” masterpieces around the personal dramas their cinematic counterparts struggled with during the creation of their celluloid dreams. “8 ½” and “Contempt” remain two of the greatest films ever made.

With “Tristram Shandy: A Cock & Bull Story”, British director Michael Winterbottom may have found the perfect literary source for his own cinematic take on the art of moviemaking. The 18th century novel which inspires and provides the structure for the work is in itself famous for being a literary dissection of the art of writing a novel. Over the past two and half centuries, the novel has taken on a life of its own, being declared a precursor to everything from James Joyce to William S. Burroughs! Go read it for yourselves and decide! And one of the best things we can say about this interesting and often hilarious new “Film About Film” is that it will inspire you to go do just that.

The film features various actors with familiar faces, but less familiar names stateside. Steve Coogan stars as . . . well, Steve Coogan, a British comedian cast in this new film adaptation of Tristram Shandy, who finds himself juggling the period trappings, the bruised ego of his “co-lead”, one Rob Brydon in fine comedic form, and his soon to be overexposed personal life which involves the now de rigeur “girlfriend with love child” that some actors seem to think have firmly replaced a wife. Wife? How Twentieth Century.

Jeremy Northam, a more familiar and still damned attractive face portrays the film director on board who is battling his own budget limitations, lackluster battle footage and quibbling co-stars. Co-leads. Whatever. Kelly Macdonald, who is a welcome sight in any film (so flawless a couple of years back in the brilliant “Gosford Park” – GO RENT IT, NOW!!) portrays the girlfriend who finds herself fighting for any spare second of her man’s time. Also seen to nice effect are scene stealer Dylan Moran as one addled doctor, and Naomie Harris – from “28 Days Later . . . ” fame as the assistant who worships Fassbinder and Bresson, who mean less to the fictional screenwriter and director than they probably do to most of you. FOR SHAME!!!!! (For your punishment, you must go rent their entire oeuvres, and well you should kids, because while it is a nice “in-joke” – it is a heartfelt one.)

You might also be pleasantly surprised to see the names of Stephen Fry and Gillian Anderson on board. Stephen Fry is a terrific actor / writer who always brings great charm to his roles, and Miss Anderson you might remember from her anal probe days. However, if you are a HUGE Gillian Anderson fan, be forewarned, the amount of screen time you saw in the preview might equal her actual screen time. But we still applaud her for being able to lampoon her own celebrity status, and chip in for the team.

And what a nice team it is! Michael Winterbottom has always made interesting films that vary wildly in subject matter but never in professionalism. Our favorite remains his stark and lonesome western “The Claim” which features a great performance by Milla Jovovich. Thud. Get up off the floor, the bitch was actually quite good as the haggard hussy. Anyway, back to the Cock & Bull story. It manages to tread the fine line between the cast having as much fun as the audience should be. While some of the jokes may teeter or fall flat, or get beaten into the ground (we weren’t big fans of the giant uterus sight gag – enough, it’s a giant uterus!), there are many choice bits that are genuinely hilarious.

What we enjoyed best about this cinematic self examination was the perfectly balanced hilarity and visual storytelling gifts of those involved. It manages to give a brief glimpse into the world of the original novel all while lampooning the day to day dramas of modern filmmaking. This film owes at least a tip of the hat to it’s predecessor “Day for Night.” For those of you not in the know - in 1973, the wonderful François Truffaut created the amazingly entertaining and shrewd “Day for Night” which to our mind perfectly captured the essence of moviemaking - the dramas, the heartbreaks, the behind the scenes and glimpses of a film within a film that not only piqued our interest but demonstrated what a great gift the late French filmmaker had for engaging audiences.

And for its own quirky ability to engage us, we heartedly recommend this version of “Tristram Shandy.” When the final curtain falls, we feel we have emerged from not only an entertaining flick, but a nice slice of moviemaking mayhem that while the particulars may not be the absolute last word on the art of making movies – the jaundiced and blessedly jovial backdrop will make you relish the trip. Go check out the wonderful “Cock and Bull” tale brought to you by the talented Michael Winterbottom – he is one to keep your eyes on kids. Bless you all!

“Who has not ‘Tristram Shandy’ read?
Is any mortal so ill-bred?”
- James Boswell
(End note: If you enjoyed the flick, and we hope you did – check out their wonderful and witty website! And make sure you stay for the wickedly funny end credits featuring a playful banter between the co-leads.)

Directed by Michael Winterbottom
Written by Frank Cottrell Boyce & Michael Winterbottom
Based on the novel by Laurence Sterne

Starring
Steve Coogan as Tristram Shandy / Walter Shandy
Rob Brydon as Toby Shandy
Jeremy Northam as Mark
Naomie Harris as Jennie
Kelly Macdonald as Jenny
Dylan Moran as Dr. Slop
Shirley Henderson as Susannah
Keeley Hawes as Elizabeth Shandy
Stephen Fry as Parson Yorick
Gillian Anderson as Widow Wadman

Film Editing by Peter Christelis
Cinematography by Marcel Zyskind
Costume Design by Charlotte Walter
Original Music by Michael Nyman
Themes by Nino Rota
Production Design by John Paul Kelly
Art Direction by Emma MacDevitt