Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story

If I played the lottery, I'd be pretty miffed that this film was 'made with lottery money', as surely the point of the lottery is that some of the money goes to good causes? This is a shockingly bad film. Steve Coogan used to be funny. Given a decent script and a good cast to work with, he can do amazing work ('The Day Today', 'Knowing Me, Knowing You' spring to mind) but what is it with Coogan and his movies that whatever he touches turns to mud? This movie is an absolute mess from start to finish - and I'm talking as someone who, as a fan of Coogan, was looking forward to seeing this film. The direction (such that it is) is jumbled, the acting is so-so.... but what was the point of making such a pile of unintelligible rubbish? There have been good reviews and the interviews that Coogan & Brydon have given were enough to make me go and see it. We are thrown a curve ball of the worst kind with this travesty of a movie. My weekend was saved by seeing The Butterfly Effect for the first time but honestly... avoid this film at all costs.

I can save each and every one of you £6..by recommending you DO NOT SEE THIS FILM!! I have just sat through the entire film (i'm told it only last 94 mins, i'd have sworn it was 3 days!!) and i wanted to kill myself afterwards. It is not funny, it is not entertaining and it certainly is NOT worth the price of the tickets. Steve Coogan is painfully up his own 'backside'. everything about this film reeks of Steve 'i'm only doing this so i get a listing in film, it has to be better than my last few efforts and with this cast, how can i go wrong' Coogan. Well, i'm sorry, but you can go wrong, and OMG you did!! It has a plot with no point, no character that you can get attached too..it's utterly humiliatingly embarrassing for all who's name appears in the final credit..and that is a lot of big name stars. I apparently missed one of the best bits (i gave up and went to the loo to escape) and can still say i'm not sorry to have missed it - it featured one of three scenes with Gillian Anderson, who was the only reason i went in the first place. I really, honestly can not stress this enough...DO NOT SEE THIS MOVIE. What i do suggest is everyone holds off until the DVD release. Then, all put in say 50p each and buy a copy of the DVD. We then all take a turn of watching it all (i'll only do this to see the bit i missed while at the loo, featuring Gillian) and then we post it on to the next person. Anyone.....?

Forget anything pedagogical that this film's title might unfortunately imply and as a result keep butts out of seats. it is wildly entertaining, ribald, and simply fun, fun, fun. all of which Sterne intended. the addition of the play within the play within the play is really brilliant. I loved the behind the scenes bits of story that had to do with the failure of the film's execution-particularly the whole shoe business. By far the greatest bit was the piece about acting techniques. Steve Coogan at first imagines what hot (as in temperature) walnuts- or some type of nut-would feel like dropped down his trousers and caught next to his genitals. He tries many interpretations but the one that slayed the audience was when he actually dropped the "hot nuts" into his trousers in order to see how close his interpretation came to the actual reaction. it was uproariously entertaining. i was wondering if winterbottom and gilliam have ever thought to produce something together? please sir may we have some more?

Very slow, tedious, with to be fair, the odd comedy line. The comment that the book is un-filmable should be enough to question whether you should use your cash for approx 90mins of boredom. Good support from Kelly Macdonald, Shirley Henderson, Naomi Harris and others. Probably good for film festival go-ers, but your average John Doe/Joe Bloggs will struggle to survive, as did approximately 50% of my fellow audience participants that left at various stages through the agony that is truly 'A Cock and Bull Story'. Definitely avoid it.

Oh gosh, what a disappointment. Its something like that Peter Fonda "Tempest" set in the Bayou. It has the same fabric as the play's outer dressing and none of the muscle and blood of the thing. Alas. One of our most intelligent filmmakers, someone who thinks about film and actually has new, clever ideas. Pay attention to "9 Songs" — if you can — and you'll be blown away. And one of our richest books. We don't have many in English, now that Ireland is a theme park for tourists. This book is not only folded in marvelous, manifold ways (many would say self- referential, but that's unduly limiting), it is a milestone in literature absolutely. The problem with the film is aptly noted in the film. At some point, they decided that every effect, every narrative overlay, would be done for comic effect and no other. So. You'll find this amusing, slightly, with only one style of humor served up a couple different ways. You will find better humor that plays with these notions elsewhere. At least, in true folded form, they tell us why in the film. Its because the guys in charge only understand "funny." There are some wonderful metabits where "deep" cinematic effect is brought up in discussions and the "guys in charge" are completely oblivious. It isn't like that opening scene in "The Player" where cinematic pretense is made fun of, and then ruthlessly exploited. No. Here the film really does ignore everything it was intended to be. I'll have to wait, I suppose, for a Winterbottom project that has a less clever source, so he can add his own notions, rather than be faced with a warehouse of attitudes and only grab those on the bottom shelf. Every scene with Naomie Harris is worth watching, in content and style. The rest, well, watch "The Company" instead if you just want to laugh, of "Singing Detective" if you want Shandy in film. Ted's Evaluation -- 2 of 3: Has some interesting elements.

In trying to film a movie based on the novel Tristam Shandy, it is explained that this book is utterly unfilmable. modestly rather, they show the actual process of trying to make this movie while discussing the parts of the book that displayed meaning so they can decide what scenes will be added/cut in the movie. Cleverly enough, this entire process serves as a metaphor for the actual book and the digressive nature of it. Maybe not the most interesting topic to watch, but it is done well enough for you to be curious as to how everything is resolved. If you don't get the metaphor, you will not like the movie. If you do, you might be as delighted as ever that something quite unique has just been viewed. didn't i just sound ridiculous?

The most accurate way in which a film could reflect the novel. A deliberately confused jumble, consistently entertaining throughout. A spot of intelligence will guarantee you enjoy this film. This is especially true if you've read the book. I recommend strongly that any fans of Coogan should see this film too. BRILLIANT AND FUNNY! The only people I wouldn't suggest see this film are those who find it difficult to concentrate or who find subtle humour difficult or tedious. Well worth a look, well worth the price of admission.

I'm a huge fan of both Coogan and Brydon. Inspired by their spontaneously funny interviews promoting this film, I gathered a few friends and went off to the big screen to view. WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT. Laugh out loud funny? Mildy amusing in only two places does not warrant a comedy label. This is a protracted, painful and just plan boring movie. Coogan and Brydon have so much more to offer, I'd have rather watched the two of them ad-lib over a pint. Half the party viewing with me fell asleep and I was left feeling like an idiot for recommending such drivel. Don't WASTE YOUR TIME. This is overstuffed pompous drivel at its worst. Coogan's foray onto the big movie screen has not been exactly successful- but at least his previous attempts were watchable. I want the 2hrs I wasted watching this back. AVOID.

Tristram Shandy, the complex novel, by Laurence Sterne, comes to the screen thanks to the adaptation and direction of Micahel Winterbottom, a man that likes to take risks. The idea of mixing the goings on of a film being made based on the novel, and the people behind the project presents some original ideas about what goes on behind the scenes. This film within a film, showcases the talents of Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon, two funny English comedians that haven't been seen much on this side of the Atlantic, but who are quite well known in the U.K. The Sterne novel is just a pretext for making sense of the book, which presents tremendous challenge to the movie makers. On the one level we see the story of the birth of the hero of the novel, and on the other, we watch a somewhat conceited actor going through the process of the filming as he and the company socialize in a posh hotel. The basic premise of the film presents a problem with American audiences drawn to the film by the good notices it received from the local critics. Judging the reaction of the audience the other day at the Angelika, one wonders if the film was understood as almost no laughter could be heard in response to some of the clever and funny things happening on the screen. In fact, it seems baffling to this viewer the response of what appeared to be an audience of mostly cool NYU students. What Mr. Winterbottom gets is excellent acting from most of this multi talented cast. Steve Coogan, with his deadpan delivery, and Rob Brydon, his sidekick, come out as the winners. Their timing is impeccable and their chemistry is real. Some of the other people in the cast include Shirley Henderson, Stephen Fry, Kelly MacDonald, Ian Hart, Jeremy Northam, Naomie Harris, Gillian Anderson and some other talented English actors, too many to mention all. The excellent musical score by Michael Nyman enhances all what we are watching. Marcel Zyskind's cinematography gives the right look to the film. Ultimately, all credit for making the film the fun it is goes to Michael Winterbottom.