Sick Product of a Sick System

Memorable, crazy movie

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

It is described as an adult fairy tale and that is true provided you understand it as the traditional definition of fairy tale. Anyway, that's what drew me in and I spent the first twenty minutes utterly bemused and the rest of the film completely transfixed. Toward the end of the movie I caught myself leaning in off my seat so as to not miss the end of the telling.Dean Spanley is funny, charming, bizarre and uplifting. An extraordinary collection of characters, perfectly portrayed with great acting are brought together in this delightful story.It's best watched with no idea of what's coming. So I'm not giving anything away. Who won't like this? Maybe cat ladies, sheep herders and anyone else who doesn't know the rules. Oh; and bunny rabbits, don't watch this if you are a bunny rabbit.

Shakespeare addresses the joys of hearing the English language spoken as perfectly and beautifully as every actor does in this thoroughly delightful film DEAN SPANLEY: 'Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounc'd it to you, trippingly on the tongue; but if you mouth it, as many of our players do, I had as lief the town-crier spoke my lines.' Based on the novel 'My Talks with Dean Spanley' by the colorful writer Lord Dunsany (Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett, July 24, 1878 in London, England, UK - October 25, 1957 (age 79) in Dublin, Ireland) and adapted for the screen with great dexterity and gentility by Alan Sharp, the story is a study in the meaning of reincarnation in the most delightful sense of the term! Set in Edwardian England where upper lips are always stiff and men from the Colonies are not entirely to be trusted, Fisk Senior (Peter O'Toole) is caustic, nihilistic has little time or affection for his son Fisk Junior (Jeremy Northam) - they visit only on Thursdays and then in only the most routine of circumstances: even the housekeeper Mrs. Brimley (Judy Parfitt) knows to only fix one boring Hot Pot for them to eat. Fisk Senior seems to have placed all his hopes on his other son who was killed in the Boer War of 1899 to 1902. Fisk Junior encouraged by his friend Wrather (Bryan Brown) breaks tradition and takes his father to a talk by the guru Nawab of Ranjiput (Ramon Tikaram) where they hear about the Indian concept of reincarnation and the inferiority of cats. The lecture is attended also by a vicar named Dean Spanley (Sam Neill) and what follows is a series of conversations and revelations over glasses of Tokay that seem to open up the vicar's remembrance of past lives - a fact that eventually relates to Fisk Senior and manages to change the grumpy old man's outlook on life. Directed by Toa Fraser with terrific atmosphere and Edwardian elegance, the actors are all superb, but one of the most satisfying aspects of this film is simply hearing a screenplay of perfect English spoken symphonically. It is a thoroughly delightful film on every level. Highly Recommended. Grady Harp

I thought I might add an unfavourable review.This film just did not convince me story-wise.Maybe because I'm a dog lover?Also, the repressed British male relationship theme was not interesting to me - I'd rather watch The Remains Of The Day for that...Usually I like Sam Neill, but not in this. I found him annoying. Sorry, but that's the way I felt.The best this movie gave me - and that at least is for life (and beyond???:-)) is "Only a closed mind is certain" --> saw that as a signature on IMDb and then checked out the film.Sadly, it did not work for me at all. Boring. Preposterous. 3 stars for the good acting by all, but there it ends.

"A Christmas Carol" meets "Ordinary People": "Dean Spanley" is an incredible little gem, a quiet and touching movie. No special effects, no violence or sex, just fabulous writing and dialog, a quirky, eccentric and unexpected plot line, topped by exquisite performances create a surprisingly charming and moving film. Jeremy Northam plays his character in an appropriately understated but warmly likable way to counterpoint the more whimsical performances of Peter O'Toole and Sam Neill. Mr. Neill has the most difficult but most critical role. The movie is completely dependent on the viewer believing his performance and he pulls it off splendidly. He is the adult reading the children's tale to a trio of rapt toddlers. Peter O'Toole displays an amazing range of emotions with just a stare and bowing of his head. And Bryan Brown plays his character with his usual Australian wink and nod. The final star of the movie is the underrated musical score.I am a little baffled at some of the lukewarm critical reviews I have read here. The member reviews have been much more generous. I can find little or no fault with the movie and have watched it several times over just to enjoy all of its subtle little nuances.