Alain E
Actually this is much better than I expected reading other comments. First of all it is not prurient. The adolescent girl and the much older painter develop a mutual attraction which is never consummated. I know, the dirty mind of Jules Dassin imagined this impossible situation. Look up Balthus, the great Polish-Swiss painter for reference. The people who object to the relationship depicted, raise instead objections about the dialogue, the acting or whatever. The Puritans are still in a position of power in US. The movie would have been much easier accepted if it included some shootings and other mayhem. Still, it is surprising that it has a PG rating given the topic. There are about 10 seconds of breast nudity which apparently Ms O’Neal retroactively regretted. Burton looks quite similar to the equal age Marlon Brando whose of course controversial movie is Last Tango in Paris. He is shown in good physical shape jogging. Little did he know that he had about 4 more years to live. Although this was Dassin’s last movie, he lived another 28 years.
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
12/20/24
Full Review
Audience Member
Watched last night and quite enjoyed Circle of Two (1980), a May-December romance between Richard Burton (!) and Tatum O'Neal. The dialogue, alas, is generally weak, though each of the stars has at least one good speech. Their first meeting is frankly inconceivable. The chemistry between them is very good, and each are believable enough in their "impossible" passions, raising this to a three-star movie (out of four) for me. Otherwise, it's a meh in that the music, settings, scenery, and costumes are run-of-the-mill. I'll give the novel a try if it's conveniently available.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
02/06/23
Full Review
Audience Member
ok drama from jules dassin
Rated 2.5/5 Stars •
Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars
01/21/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Why do fools fall in love? Why do birds sing in May? Why do young girls become infatuated with artists? So is the tale of this improbable relationship. Burton knows this is crazy. Tatum O'Neal is love struck. There is another, older woman however and this eventually complicates things enormously for Burton.
[img]http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRmn_mPXWISTCE23UQV8FyPxPYVmxl81P7dwV16Vevndo0uecIyYQ[/img] The chance meeting of these two
For a clip from the film showing the serious issue at hand, SEE this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34Qw50VXYgo
SEE the entire film here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEPF7wr2RA8
The film pays much homage to a popular television series of the time, "Columbo". The girl adores and recites lines from Lt. Columbo (Peter Falk) frequently. A picture of the fumbling detective Columbo hangs in her room.
Movies of this genre are many. The spring-fall romance is not new. But 16 and 60? If I were 60 year old Burton I would be seen in public ALL the time with his newfound admirer. But not is the case in this film. He has the girl to his barn "studio" and they share champagne in the first half hour of the film. Now this is what I call not a talkie, but a quickie!
The anquish bound relationship gets going soon in the film. Elder Richard Burton plays the artist who was famous but gave up painting for a decade. Until his, by chance, relationship with a girl 16 years old, he 60, begins. He knows it's crazy... she finds the relationship stimulating, far more than her drab home and school life.
[img]http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTO_m1TtcNyzzmdSJadzCSYOmCnCYLul5AqKZ4_GkwyGt7iVFjI[/img] Improbable relationship but I suppose it could be
Today (this was in the early 80's mind you) this relationship would be a scandal and likely a jail term for Burton. But poetic license takes over and we are asked to believe the relationship can not only happen but survive.
Their early encounter begins, strangely, in a porno movie theatre. Burton sleeps through much of it while the girl, only 16, naturally is interested but is surrounded by "dirty old men". (Of course, anyone over 30 is an old man)
I had real issues watching this film from the start. But it sort of grows on you with the presence of screen legend Richard Burton being so eloquent with his dialog. He IS the movie for me. Tatum O'Neal is great as well, far advanced in acting for her years since Paper Moon with her father, Ryan O'Neal.
[img]http://cdn100.iofferphoto.com/img/item/518/104/415/circle-of-two-dvd-1981-richard-burton-tatum-o-neal-6186.jpg[/img] The painting that brings our artist back to painting
So I guess I can encourage all young girls and older men to watch this film and take heed of it. It may serve you well, positively or otherwise. I myself found just a 5 year difference in ages intolerable, but hey that's just me and that was back then when grass was green and the future endless.
[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/06/Circle_of_Two_DVD_cover.jpg/220px-Circle_of_Two_DVD_cover.jpg[/img]
REVIEWS
60%
Certainly far from Burton's best but he puts in a solid performance despite the flimsy script.
90%
This was a sad movie... not gonna lie. It was very thoughtful though...
NOTES:
1 Circle of Two is a 1980 Canadian film. It starred Richard Burton as a 60-year old artist who falls in love with a sixteen-year-old played by Tatum O'Neal.
2 The last film directed by acclaimed film noir director Jules Dassin (shunned by 50's Hollywood during the anti-Communist scare of the McCarthy era).
3 Controversially, Tatum O'Neal - sixteen at the time of filming - posed for a topless scene and totally nude were it not for a chair.
Directed by
Jules Dassin
Produced by
Film Consortium of Canada
Written by
Thomas Hedley from the novel Lessons in Love by Marie Terese Baird
Starring
Richard Burton
Tatum O'Neal
Music by
Paul Hoffert
Cinematography
Lazlo George
Editing by
David Nicholson
Distributed by
United Artists
Release date(s)
1980
Running time
106 min.
[img]http://www.majesticmovieshop.com/7701-2303-thickbox/circle-of-two-1981.jpg[/img]
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
01/19/23
Full Review
jas s
Certainly far from Burton's best but he puts in a solid performance despite the flimsy script.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
03/31/23
Full Review
Audience Member
This was a sad movie... not gonna lie. It was very thoughtful though...
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
02/02/23
Full Review
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