Being There, 1979 (Grade A)

DirectorL Hal Ashby
Awards; yes--Academy Awards for best supporting actor Melvyn Douglas, and nominated for best actor. ALso on AFI, best 100 for laughs
CAST:  Peter Sellers; Shirley MacLaine; Melvyn Douglas, Jack Warden, Richard A Dysart, Richard Basehart, David Clennon

sez says: This is a delight..and unlike many comedy/satires it has held up perfectly over the years. It is an absurd story: A man (Peter Sellers) with no experience of the world, except for what he has seen on TV, and what he has learned gardening, is set loose in the world of high finance, national politics and thus enters --front and center into the media's focus.  As well as finds himself in the sites of an amorous woman.  He understands nothing about what is going on around him and constantly answers their questions with simple, honest truth based on his limited life experience. He overwhelms them all  as they hear what they want to hear.  All of this could have fallen flat without great acting, perfects sets, astute timing.  But it does work and it is not jut good laughs--it is good social commentary.  (Grade A)