MovieChat Forums > Identikit (1975) Discussion > why, liz, why

why, liz, why

posted 19 years ago by FishHeadSweety
14 replies | jump to latest

'The Driver's Seat' is the most incoherrant movie I've seen. It's a pretentious 'art' film that seems to have a 1970's date rapist perspective of women. I'm amazed feminist didn't rail over this clunker. That's why I'm doing it. Do yourself a favor and imagine Elizabeth Taylor in your home movies-the ones that have too many scenes of trees. That will be your 'art' part.
Skip the part where Elizabeth has to fend off a macrobiotic diet freak who has to have sex every day. He gives her a lift from the airport; it's the 70's; naturally, she should be sexually available to him since they just met.
This movie is a mess. I was left wondering if Elizabeth was blackmailed into doing it.

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] winonaforever2 18 years ago

I think the same, this film is poorly done and all that, but her performance is quite allright. I think it is one of Liz's last effective performances. And apart than we are talking about the 1970s, and a movie dealing with this subject was quite a new thing at the time. When I saw it a few years ago I found it a bit disturbing and I didn't understannd it very well. I think the best thing is Liz's performance, she took this vehicle to do someting she's never done before. Not only she was not sbelte and young looking anymore, but she had to look like a crazy woman. I only wish this film had been given the proper treatment. It's not surprising this film got bad reviews at the time of its release, it's very transgressive and experimental.
And tlaking about Liz's films, she was quite a bit of a camp muse or someting. just watch most of ther films between 1970-75 like X,Y and Zee or Boom!(1968)

[–] jasonhurd 17 years ago

Here's my answer to thegrip229's post: I have read the original novel by Muriel Spark, and the film follows the text slavishly; I can't think of any real departures. The book is just as weird as the movie.

[–] denis-38 16 years ago

Of course this is the weirdest movie of La Liz's career--and that's saying something, with curiosities such as "Reflections In a Golden Eye," "Boom!" and "Secret Ceremony." Not to mention "X, Y and Zee" "Nightwatch" and "Hammersmith is Out." The funny thing is, it was this latter period (her "decline" as those who don't get ET, inisit this was) during which I became fascinated with her. I have to disagree that Liz was "not svelte" as one of the posters said. In fact, she was admirable form--and showed off a good deal of that form. (The transparent bra is especially revealing.) She was supposed to be garishly dressed, coiffed like Medusa and over made-up. This was an indication of her character's madness. Problem? It just looked like another day with Liz--big hair, blue eyeshadow, lurid clothes. Who knows why she took it? It came during her first split from Burton (He was also in Rome, filming "Brief Encounter" with Sophia Loren) Why even ask WHY? Her taste in money-making scripts faded after "Taming of the Shrew." Then she went bananas and became much more fun!

I love "The Driver's Seat" for all the reasons others don't. It's totally off the wall, and totally Liz. (Check out "X, Y and Zee" for a really good time!)

[–] justinionn 17 years ago

I quite liked it. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but it's very entertaining.

[–] MissWatusi 17 years ago

Go to You Tube and search Diva on a Plane. I think you will find it hilarious. I would love to see this movie.

[–] mmitsos-1 14 years ago

"He gives her a lift from the airport; it's the 70's; naturally, she should be sexually available to him since they just met."

Your comment cracked me up.

I've never heard of this film, but have been perusing her films this evening here on IMDb (may she RIP). I want to find this one and watch it. I love films from the 70's. This one sounds quirky, but entertaining.

[–] BarrieMilton 14 years ago

In the 70's Liz racked up a slew of 'dis'-credits. Try finding ASH WEDNESDAY another hilarious misfire where aging Liz has 'plastic surgery' to lure back philandering hubby Henry Fonda. At the time, some critics reviewed the film as a documentary!

[–] FishHeadSweety 14 years ago

i saw its trailor on another movie i was watching and found it at amazon.com for a penny. although i was outraged the first time i saw it, the movie did teach me about movie star presence. i couldn't take my eyes off Elizabeth, even though she wasn't dolled up looking her best. i may have to rewatch it and hope to get past the scenes of trees from a car window that seem to last 20 minutes and the crazy sex stuff. i can see why campaholics love it.
RIP Elizabeth. we love you.

Ask a fish head anything you want to, they won't answer. They can't talk.

[–] The_Dying_Flutchman 14 years ago

Xcalate1776 has said the entire panty raid sequence was cut before release.

Let it be unsaid: insignificance is the locus of true increpation.

[–] FishHeadSweety 9 years ago

I got it for a penny at Amazon. Elizabeth is good in the movie. It's just a what the beep kind of movie that apparently made me go off the deep end. However, it did teach me what presense in an actress is because i couldnt take my eyes off Liz.

[–] WarpedRecord 12 years ago

Rather than ask why, I'll just applaud Liz for making such a bizarre, non-Hollywood piece of surrealism during an era when she could have been picking much safer vehicles than "The Driver's Seat." I loved it all, even if I understood very little. 8/10 stars from me.

[–] agentalbert (3374) 2 years ago

Yep, I really liked it.

And if nothing else, Liz looks great in a see through bra.

[–] LetThemEatCake01 9 years ago

She wasn't blackmailed into it, she loved the novel and really wanted to do the movie. It's not incoherent at all, it's an art film.