The Dresser - Finney and Courtenay, Awesome

1983's, "The Dresser" was nominated for the Motion Picture Academy's Best Picture Award. Its two lead roles were also nominated for the Best Actor award. Each were beaten out by "Terms of Endearment" and Jack Nicholson respectively. How The Dresser was bested by such an inferior film I will leave to the reader’s imagination. That it was nipped out proves that the Academies awards have as much to do with excellence in the movie making and acting arts, as do the Grammy Awards do for musical excellence.

Albert Finney has at the time of this review (2004) begun to receive the accolades due him for his decades of superlative acting. Tom Courtenay has not been given credits for his incredible skills. The Dresser brought these two fine actors together in what can only be described as a gripping, draining and deeply intense film.

Finney gives a memorable portrayal as an aged England based World War 2 era Shakespearian actor would is falling into senility and poor health. Courtenay plays the part of a gay and diligent dresser who serves Finney's character as costume dresser, valet and "mother".

This film displays Finney's range of vocal ability in full force. He seems equally comfortable with Shakespearian parts as he does with playing a mentally unbalanced 20th century man. Courtenay shows his ability to use emotion as an acting tool. Giving us a look at his characters devotion, iron-will and disperse.

This film was no doubt draining both physically and emotionally for both actors. It can also be draining for the viewer as the intensity of the dialogue and its rapid-fire projection demands your attention. Once your attention is given, The Dresser's two leading men reward the viewer with a display of acting as and art and a love.

Had this film been released in the 21st century, it would no doubt easily have won the Academies Best Picture Award and Finney and Courtenay would have shared Best Actor Awards. This film stands as a point to be reached by any actor. This is ART and this is depth of performance. It is so sad that these qualities are so seldom reached for by the current day, bottom line driven movie corporations. If you care to see two fine actors and deliver the real goods, The Dresser will fit the bill. If you do not care for fine acting, gripping dialoged and depth of art, look elsewhere.