No Such Thing Rating: Release Date: 04 February, 2003 Retail Price: $14.98 OUR Price: $12.99 You SAVE: $1.99! Cast: Robert John Burke Sarah Polley Julie Christie Jon Anderson Complete Cast (6 total)

No Such Thing Reviews

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Not my favorite Hartley, but still worth seeing
I would rate this in the mid- to low-range of Hartley films - but I still recommend it because even a sub-par HH is miles above most other directors' best efforts. It's one of those things where I see what he's trying to do (modern-day fairy tale, satirical allegory etc.) and in theory it should work, except it falls flat in the end because the plot ends up being somewhat forced and unoriginal.

However! Robert John Burke as the monster is hysterical and totally worth the price of admission (as it were). I love the whole concept of an angry, drunken, chain-smoking monster cursing up a storm and wishing he could commit suicide. Burke's performance is spot-on and not the slightest bit hokey, as the character so easily could have been in the hands of a lesser actor. And Polley, while I like her in general (she was great in Go), is sort of flat and wishy-washy throughout much of the film, except in those first scenes when she meets the monster. He injects some much-needed life into her line readings.

For HH fans, it's definitely worth it for Burke alone. For those new to Hartley, it's not the best introduction - for that, try Henry Fool instead.

best character I have seen...in a long...long...time!
You know, the new Star Wars movies did not have a character that could hold my interest, but the monster in this movie does. Mr. Burke, had to wear skin to play this part, but he played it with more than the skin, with his eyes, expressions, his voice. I have not seen a more unique character than this one. My favorite character in books is from 'Le Miserables', and from movies, this monster. Watch it you'll be surprised.

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