Film

What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases


Equus (1977)

Director: Sidney Lumet

Average user rating
2 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

Lumet's reverential adaptation of Peter Shaffer's play all but defies sane comment: the sub-Lawrentian pretensions that theatre audiences took so seriously stand revealed in all their Pythonesque absurdity when transposed to the screen. The problem is very basic: theatrical symbolism just isn't the same as filmic realism. Add to this that Burton lacks even a shred of credibility as the psychiatrist, and that Firth's performance - technically faultless - is periodically interrupted by scenes in which the awe-struck camera simply observes him undressed, and you begin to comprehend the film's true wretchedness.

Author: TR

Time Out Film Guide


User reviews of this film

  • Mawang said...
    Posted on Dec 12 2011 21:59 Good old Time Out: the ONLY guide to see how poorly Richard Burton plays the psychiatrist. It was his ponderously thundering tones that drove my wife away after 5 minutes. If only she had stayed to watch Peter Firth: a great performance there, that kept me engaged till the end.
    Report as inappropriate
  • Rohne Hill said...
    Posted on Aug 18 2009 22:59 Yeah the pythanesque aspect is unfortunately valid.
    What starts off as a Bergman style flic (Solemn intervalled converstaions with the camera etc) does become quite ridiculous by the fifth "Chinkle-Chankle" and "Ark of the Man-bit".
    But surely no more ridiculous then many aspects, parlances and catchphrases of religion.
    Perhaps "Centuar" would have worked better as a title for the merging of man into godhood, or was it all a horsehead erection?
    You're right that Burton isn't quite convincing as a shrink but he does the burnt out aspect all too well, and Peter Firth is marvelous.
    One suspects they really shold have replaced Buffalo Bill in Silence of the lambs with this horse worshipping character to really unerve the audience!
    Report as inappropriate

What do you think?
Post your review now

clear rating
Min 1 star. Zero stars will be treated as unrated.

*mandatory fields





Top Stories

Ridley Scott interview

Ridley Scott interview

Director Ridley Scott tells Cath Clarke why he's making a science fiction comeback

Cannes Film Festival 2012: half-time report

Cannes Film Festival 2012: half-time report

Dave Calhoun reports on the hits, misses and a shocking new masterpiece from Michael Haneke

Wes Anderson interview

Wes Anderson interview

Cath Clarke talks to the director of Cannes's opening film

Open-air movies in London

Open-air movies in London

Cath Clarke rounds up this summer's crop of outdoor film screenings

The 100 best French films

The 100 best French films

In honour of Cannes, we reveal the best French films of all time

Ken Loach interview

Ken Loach interview

Ken Loach talks to us about his Cannes Film Festival entry 'The Angels' Share'