Customer Reviews:
I've got nothing against your biopic..........2005-02-21
Firstly, a biopic is quite an impossible medium to fully explore any individual's existence, let alone a man with as rich a life as Peter Cook's. Thankfully, the film-makers of 'Not Only But Always' are quite aware of this, the crux of the film details the sometimes froughtful relationship between the afore-mentioned and comic partner, Dudley Moore.
Rhys Ifans is quite simply superb in the role, playing the man with utter conviction both in character and as comedian. Aiden McArdle, as the 'short one with the club foot' is also extremely convincing. The two fair best in the confrontational scenes, although are strangely lacking as a comedy double act which could be problematic but in the context of the film, only serves to highlight the difficulties the two encountered as friends.
Yes the film rushes over some events far too broadly and Cook's cruelty is oversimplified for the small screen. It also makes far too basic assumptions on each of the performer's respective success later in their careers. Cook was no failure. Already being the 'funniest man to have ever drawn breath' (copyright John Cleese'), he didn't have to achieve the commercial heights enjoyed by his partner to prove this.
These are only slight niggles really though which do not detract from the broad brush strokes of greatness that coat this film. Double gloss.
The worst job you'll ever have? Trying to follow this..........2005-02-03
This made-for-television film is based heavily on Peter Cook's biography by Harry Thompson (co-creator of the brilliant "Monkey Dust"). I suggest you read the biography before you watch this, otherwise you are liable to have little clue as to what is going on. The film moves way too fast, paying little attention to any single episode of Cook's life, simply trying to cram all his genius and all the amazing things he did into two hours. It is testament to Cook that two hours is simply not enough.
The most blatant example of this cramming technique is right at the end, when Cook (Rhys Ifans) and Dudley Moore (Aiden McArdle) meet for the last time and have "a bit of a chat". Except it's not a bit of a chat. The writer has obviously reached a bit of a dilemma - "yikes! so many brilliant Cook witticisms I haven't penned in yet, and so little time left in which to do so!". So the two characters simply spew out one-liner after one-liner at each other while the credits role. I'm not saying they're not good jokes - they're all Cook's - but it is a cynical and lazy way of ending a film, and consequently "Not Only But Always" ends on a (forgive me) dud note.
There are good points, of course. All the actors give exceptional performances - not impersonations, thank God, but proper performances - Ifans in particular. And occasionally I felt a twinge of emotion as the film depicted the dissolution of Cook and Moore's friendship. But for the most part the film is far too rushed to be followed by anyone unfamiliar with Cook's life, and it never really slows down enough to let you immerse yourself in the action and care about the characters. You can forgive the producers for wanting to fit in every joke, every success, every moment of Cook's life - their reverence for the man decrees that it would be sacrilege to miss out a single second - but really I feel they should have known better. I'm glad I watched it, but only because it taught me how not to make a film biography.
Not only bad, But also sad........2005-01-21
I must start firstly by simply saying i was surprised.
when i heard that Ryhs Ifans would be playing Peter Cook, i was surprised, and filled with a sense of dread.
But,i must say, i was surprised, he was pretty good, he has some scenes in this film in which you could close your eyes and think it was the man himself. But of course, it wasnt.
Im no Cook expert, but i know enough about the man to know that some vital factual elements were missing in this film, the Derek and Clive scenes alone were wrong and badly delivered, and ive been told all the school scenes were incorrect and some later elements.
But that is nit picking, i enjoyed this film, but i feel it missed the point, i was very impressed however with the performances by the main actors, Ifans was very good as Cook, and Aiden McArdle was very very good as Little Dud.
But i can see why people would dissaprove, it does picture cook as a man lost without dud and turning to booze to get over his "failure"
But with Cook, this wasnt the case, he did what he wanted, he accheived what many people would want as a career by the time he was 25, (when he was still at university he had written Pieces of Eight for Kenneth Williams which not only ran in the west end but also ressurected Williams' career)yes, he would have loved to have been a hollywood star, but could you really see Cook in "Micky and Maude" or "Arthur 2: on the rocks"?
(ok, so he did Supergirl, but were all allowed one mistake) point is, Cook was the antithisis of anti-hollywood, when he attempted to break into US TV with "the two of us" you could tell his heart wasnt in it, Peter loved being different and revelled in peoples reactions when they were appalled or offended.
I dont think this was really put accross in this film, they tended to dwell too much on the pathos.
I feel the film missed the point of their relationship, Pete felt half the performer without Dud and Dud WAS half the perormer without Pete, its a sad fact, but a valid one that just wasnt explored in this film.
UK DVD:
- Offside [2006]
- On The Up - Series 1-3
- Pecker
- Pie In The Sky - Series 2 - Part 1
- Pie In The Sky - Series 2 - Part 1
- Pret-a-Porter [1995]
- Puppetry Of The Penis [2001]
- Return of the Living Dead [1985] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- Sean's Show - Series 1
- Series 7 - The Contenders [2001]
UK DVD List
UK DVD
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![Peter Cook and Dudley Moore - The Very Best of Goodbye Again [2005]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B0006L7ODO.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
Peter Cook and Dudley Moore - The Very Best of Goodbye Again [2005]
Peter Cook - A Posthumerous Tribute
![Derek And Clive Get The Horn [1979]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B00004YVEK.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
Derek And Clive Get The Horn [1979]
Dud and Pete: The Dagenham Dialogues (Methuen Humour)
Something Like Fire: Peter Cook Remembered
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![Not Only but Always... [2004] (REGION 1) (NTSC)](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21XFNQHHQGL.jpg)
