Very Cool!!!

Highly Overrated But Still Good

The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

I had seen tiny bits of this programme a couple of times, and I recognised the actor who played Tony Blair in The Queen, so I thought I might as well give it a go. It is all about the life of Carry On actor Kenneth Williams (Michael Sheen), based on his diaries. It is interesting to see what interpretations have been made of him from just his diaries, but Sheen does quite an okay job of playing the "Ooh, Matron" gay attitude that many people recognise, but it is also interesting to see what he might have been like in his private life. Also starring Cheryl Campbell as Lou Williams, Peter Wight as Charlie Williams, Beatie Edney as Joan Sims, Kenny Doughty as Joe Orton, Ron Cook as Peter Eade, Martin Trenaman as Tony Hancock, David Charles as Charles Hawtrey, Ewan Bailey as Kenneth Halliwell, Rachel Clarke as Barbara Windsor, Ged McKenna as Sidney James and Nicholas Parsons. I personally preferred the performance of Williams by Charie and the Chocolate Factory's Adam Godley in Cor, Blimey!, but Sheen does alright, and I suppose it is worth a look. Worth watching, at least once!

I saw this very emotionally painful portrayal and it was fascinating. The conflict between the public and private faces of Williams and the pressure he was under is illuminated in a way that even those who knew something about him would be surprised. The cast acted superbly, but Michael Sheen was outstanding. I only realised it was him when I saw the earlier comment. He looks completely physically different in this role, from any other role I have seen him in or as himself. Williams autobiography differs markedly from his diaries,as represented in this film. The film is at times distressing to watch, because of the emotional anguish displayed. However, it is a worthwhile experience and a film that can be recommended highly.

This is a "docu-drama" of (mostly) the later years of KW's life, with nearly all the parts played by actors (but spot which TV quartermaster plays himself!). It was made for the BBC4 arts channel but my guess is there will be syndication and DVD releases soon. KW is ably played by the excellent Michael Sheen, here repeating his previous stage role with great success. Most of the supporting cast are also very good, and a nice touch is the recreation of period TV appearances with the new actors. This is not, however, light viewing - anyone familiar with KW's diaries and general unhappy demeanour will already know how twisted he could be in later life - so don't expect 80 minutes of Carry On styled buffoonery, since the emphasis is decidedly downbeat throughout. Recommended, but it's tragi-comic, indeed.

An unassuming but thoroughly satisfying film that looks at the fascinating man behind the pursed lips and waspish tongue we all know from the Carry On films. The film shows us a man both appalled and aroused by his homosexuality. a man desperate for love who pushes away any advances that may bring him a moments fleeting happiness.He befriends playwright Joe Orton who is everything Williams wishes he was: virile, self-confident and relaxed with his sexuality. But it is Orton's partner and murderer, Kenneth Halliwell, with whom he shares the quietly desperate despair that characterises his life. Like the man himself this is very funny but also tragic. It plays to the best qualities of British film-making; well scripted. character driven and unflashy. Worth your time