Wittgenstein

Audience Reviews

View All (37) audience reviews

MaryLou P I stumbled across this film on Kanopy, and almost didn't watch it. I was a Philosophy major in college (50+ years ago), and studied Wittgenstein, without knowing or learning much of anything about his life. I think this film, totally unexpected, is tender and brilliant. I don't know how meaningful it might be to someone totally unfamiliar with W's work, but for me it contextualized so much of my recalled experiences of trying to wrap my head around his work -- in a manner both amusing and deeply empathetic. This won't be for everyone, but it pierced my heart; and makes me want to re-read "The Philosophical Investigations," not something I would ever have expected. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/09/25 Full Review Audience Member He was a philosopher and therefore doomed to failure, so you have to appreciate a biopic that manages to thread its way through the complexities without leaving you with a huge question mark. Wit will get you through times without clarity better than clarity will get you through times with no wit. The color palette is wonderful, and the kid…Wow! Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Audience Member If you have found out about this film, you definitely need to watch it. Experimental, innovative & very conceptual film malking. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/20/23 Full Review Audience Member True to the rest of Jarman's work, Wittgenstein opts for an ultra-minimal, soundstage-based production and is filled with his signature period idiosyncrasies. There are times when it feels as if he's emulating the style of a children's program, which is appropriate given the fact that this is much more ridiculous, lighthearted, and funnier than his usually austere looks into the lives of gay historical figures and social outcasts. Thankfully, this also gives him an opportunity to play dress-up with Tilda Swinton, these visual and narrative points of lightness supplementing the philosophical musings of its subject. The fact that he chose to document Wittgenstein's life specifically is admirable as his work is known to be generally impenetrable, but he approaches his ideas through some clever physical representations of the abstract concepts that work pretty well, and though it all amounts to minor Jarman, it's still absolutely enjoyable for fans of his work. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/10/23 Full Review Audience Member Another post-modern thing by Derek Jarman. This one got a plot line at least. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Audience Member good biopic. a bit strange. it does a decent job at introducing his unique life and even attempts, fairly well I'd say, to introduce his ideas. it does deviate from his life at times but it still works. also, it could easily be adopted for the stage and may have been written as a theater piece. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/14/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Wittgenstein

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW