Waste of time

Absolutely Fantastic

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

The best part of this movie is being able to watch Julie Christie flit and flirt for two hours. I have no problem with her being awarded the Oscar, either, as she shows a wider range than I had thought possible. Having said that, this movie is blatantly in love with itself. The kind of movie that screams, ''look at how edgy and clever we are.'' I liken it to American Beauty in that regard. But like that latter-day bauble that won the Oscar over half-a-dozen far-more worthy films, Darling thinks it is cutting edge when it's just stiff and plodding. Maybe it was exciting to uptight Britons who grew up on meat rations, or Marxist labour activists who enjoyed the pot-shots against the ruling class, media and advertising world, I don't know. There is no way anyone watching this post-British Invasion would have found this remotely edgy, much like American Beauty and its middle-finger to middle-class conformity was about as daring as two tickets to the matinee performance of Jersey Boys.

Often described as a film of the swinging sixties, it of course is nothing of the sort but an important precursor. Even allowing for the lapse between the making and releasing of a film this is vitally, just before. For me the period is 1967 to 1972 and this film released in 1965 has none of the colourful craziness and there really still are youngsters walking about as if it is still the 50s. But never mind this definitely covers the concerns and changing attitudes to personal relationships. It is unfortunate in my view (though perhaps inevitable) that Schlesinger is more interested here in the male characters. Bogarde is absolutely brilliant here and Laurence Harvey who I don't usually like because he seems to stiff is fantastic here in what must be his best role. Julie Christie is fine and looking lovely throughout whilst having to go through far more emotional changes than the guys and there is a orgy in Paris without any flesh visible but where it is the guys taking off clothes faster than any of the girls. There are some marvellous street scenes, London more than Paris and some good ones down by the river near Kew Bridge and Strand on the Green where Christie begins her first affair with Bogarde throwing pebbles into the river. Lots of good stuff but a little overlong because it doesn't quite all hang together as we are asked to agonise of this and that when the issues no longer seem as relevant, never mind that homosexuality would be legalised in a couple of years.

This drama about a fashion model sleeping her way to the top is very much a product of its times. The main point of this film seems to be to promote the newfound sexual freedom of the 1960s. Not only does the protagonist go bed-hopping, but she also strikes up a close friendship with a gay photographer, signaling the filmmakers' tolerance of homosexuality. There is nothing wrong with the liberal agenda if it's integrated into an engaging story. No such luck here. There is really very little by way of plot; it's mainly a series of meandering events that soon turns dreary and drags on far too long. Christie is fine in her Oscar-winning role and Bogarde and Harvey also fare well.

I find it rather shocking that Darling was released in the year that I was born - it's dated, a museum piece, almost and I'm glad that I think myself as being more open and less sneering and cynical.My film bible, Halliwells, before its demise, awarded Scheslinger's 1965 film a rare maximum 4 stars - they usually only gave 2 or 3 films per year such a rating and so I was really looking forward to watching this, as Julie Christie was indeed a fine and attractive actress.However, despite its cleverness and swipes at the glamour and beauty industry in the swinging '60s London, it's just too clinical, hard and unapproachable. Diana (Christie) is immediately presented just as she's telling us (via an overbearing voice-over commentary) that she's no home-breaker, but has already dragged successful TV journalist, Robert (Dirk Bogarde) from his wife and children and is fully enjoying their affair.From here-on in, it seems to be one gentleman suitor to the next, all the way up to foreign aristocracy. Dotted about and in-between are some wonderfully strange characters and scenarios, often in exotic European cities. Some fairly wacky and bohemian partying scenes remind me somewhat of the great Fellini, as in his La Dolce Vita. On my second viewing, this time, I cannot quite 'see' the scene/s that warrants the DVD's 15 certificate. There's no actual frontal nudity, or swearing, though some of the adult orientated (including 'homosexuality is becoming a menace in modern society') sort of attitude back then, they are hardly applicable now.The crisp, stark black and white photography should be a reason for celebration but it's like having the main central living-room light on all evening - it gets rather overbearing and head-achy, especially over its just over two hour running time.There are some real moments within, though, but the Oscar that Christie swooped misses me somewhat and the script, also Oscar-winning doesn't seem to stand out particularly. Back in its day, though, I'm sure it was quite different - and scathing enough to be seen as something profoundly exciting, especially for a British film.Is it worth buying today? The transfer quality is superb, but as far as the actual film is concerned, it will fall into two camps. Those who would have seen it and films of the like back in the day and want to be re-acquainted, or want to replace a worn out VHS and those exploring this era of Brit neo-realist cinema, like me. There are some real gems in this genre but some haven't stood the test of time that well and some have. Sadly, 'Darling' slots into the former but if you want to sample the most influential of them, then it is a must. It's a reasonable price at least and you may well enjoy it more than I did - and it still IS a good film.