Brimstone & Treacle | | Cast : | Sting, Denholm Elliott | | Director : | Richard Loncraine | | Studio : | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen | | Released Date : | November 12, 1982 | | DVD Released Date : | September 16, 2003 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), French (Subtitled), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), English (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | R (Restricted) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | March 26, 2005 | | Summary | Something else... | Content
 | ...that's for sure! You really have to be in a certain mood to watch this "peculiar" movie. Sting as the Devil himself, well as a big fan I must say that the man never stops to surprise me. I really liked him in The Grotesque (with Alan Bates) as well. He always acts to be very different from the sophisticated music-performer he is and is most famous for -so it is kind of funny to see him in these kind of "crazy" roles. Yes, the acting in "Brimstone..." is very good indeed -the story, well, different. Original, and sometimes funny -other times it just makes you sick. All I can say is; looking for an alternate movie-experience with a different "twist" then this might be what you're looking for..? I've seen it twice, and I don't regret it! |
| Rating | | | Date | September 16, 2003 | | Summary | WEIRDLY DISTURBING | Content
| Once banned on the BBC, BRIMSTONE AND TREACLE (MGM) stars Sting as Martin Taylor, a charismatic, mysterious figure who insinuates himself into the household of the Bates. Tom Bates (Denholm Elliot) writes religious literature, his wife Norma (Joan Plowright) spends her time caring for their disabled, mute, daughter. Martin doesn't know the family, but convinces the Bates that he's an old friend of their daughter and moves in to do his thing. Is Martin a demon or an angel? See what happens when the daughter recovers her speech. |
| Rating | | | Date | April 08, 2003 | | Summary | "You are an extremely salacious and corrupt Jezebel." | Content
| In the film "Brimstone and Treacle," Tom Bates (Denholm Elliot) owns a small evangelical publishing business. On the way home from work one evening, a rather strange young man literally crashes into him and proceeds to claim a prior acquaintance. Tom Bates manages to ditch the stranger, but the young man--whose name is Martin Taylor (Sting)--shows up at the beautiful, but remote, country home where Tom lives. Martin ostensibly wants to return Tom's wallet, but he fabricates excuses for staying. Martin claims a previous relationship with the daughter, Patricia, who is now basically a mental vegetable following a nasty accident 4 years previously. Martin very craftily discovers and gauges the domestic discord between Mr and Mrs Bates, and he capitalizes on this--weaseling his way in and ingratiating himself with Mrs Bates (Joan Plowright) or "mumsy" as he calls her. Tom is extremely suspicious, but he is treading on very sticky moral ground, and Norma Bates is too relieved to find someone to assist with Patricia's caretaking to ask questions. She is too naive to contemplate the nasty alternative, and she considers Martin "just what she needs." Is Martin an angel sent to help Patricia, or is he a demon? That is for the viewer to decide. Supernatural elements abound in this film, and the eerie atmosphere is consistent throughout. The cast is small, and the script is tight. Denholm Elliot is believeable as the slightly neurotic Tom who insists his daughter has left her human body and just the shell remains. He exists on a tightrope of lost faith, repressed sexuality and guilt. Joan Plowright as Norma Bates plays the long-suffering wife--somewhat out-of-touch with reality--whose religious faith gets her through each long, tedious, and depressing day. She believes in miracles, and she hopes that one will occur. Well, be careful what you wish for.... Keep an eye open for Sting's cross-dressing scene. If you are a fan of the Police, they play throughout the film, and the soundtrack to the film is available. This is an unusual tale--some may find it offensive and/or profane, and there is some female nudity.... |
| Rating | | | Date | September 07, 2002 | | Summary | Even if you don't like Sting | Content
| I love this movie, but I am also a Sting fan (Sting from the Police not Sting the dirty hippie). I had a hard time getting people to watch this movie, because Sting was in it, but he is very good. The story is creepy and the characters are believable. In the beginning it is hard to put your finger on who is the token good character and who is the token bad guy, but that just keeps you interested. So if you like feeling uncomfortable and if you like yelling comments of disapproval and suggestions at the screen, I say buy this video. |
|
Picture 01 (20)
