Castaway

Roeg is always interesting and challenging so I make a point of watching his films even though I don't always like them. This film reminded me of Bad Timing, in the sense that it is a movie about an incompatible couple drawn together for the wrong reasons, their relationship put under duress and under the microscope of a reality they can't escape from, until everything snaps.

He has an obsessive, idealistic fantasy about living on a desert island with a woman, her reasons are never made clear, but they both seem to want the adventure so they ignore their problems during their first few months of their relationship, and embark on the survivalist project. The problems start already on the first day, with his ideals and fantasies getting in the way of real work that needs to be done, and she takes all the wind out of his sails by suddenly denying him any more sex, and nagging him to do more house-wo... I mean island-work.

At least that's the way I see it. Watching this movie, I found myself constantly wondering what's going on in his mind. His mind seems to be a mess, his behaviour is extremely erratic, and everything he does is criticized by her, blatantly chauvinistic to the point of being a caricature, or just wrong. He doesn't feel like a real person. Whereas she can do no wrong, and her emotional needs are explained to death.

And then it dawned on me: This is a one-sided story told only from the woman's side, consisting of rants against a man she doesn't like nor understand, who finds herself in a survivalist adventure that didn't match her romantic ideals.

Imagine my lack of surprise when I looked up the credits and found that this is based on a real-life adventure book written from her point of view.

Another flaw is the lack of realism and changes in their always-displayed nude bodies, Roeg having to insert awkward shots of another emaciated body to convey the idea that they are in bad health. Compare this with Tom Hanks' physical work in his desert island movie.

In summary: I like the idea, I like the acting, I like Roeg's constantly challenging cinematic work and inventive methods of telling a story, but the material this is based on feels fundamentally flawed and biased, with Reed's character making no sense as a result. This is fatal in a character study.

Nick Roeg did something which I am sure is way above most viewers' heads. A man decides to spend a year away from the madding crowd (who doesn't want to?) and takes a woman with him. So far, so good. But the man is so far removed from reality that he does not prepare properly, ignores warnings (they do not come at him as his normal world would deliver them: you should not, danger, etc. - friendly advice he sloughs off as inferior) and nearly starves to death. BUT, here's the interesting part, in his own mind he sees it all as idyllic and wants to continue. He creates his own fantasy i his head and lives there, while in truth he and the woman are starving to death. Anorexia anyone? If you know someone who believes in their own reality, make them watch this movie as psychotherapy. Will they survive? Watch and find out.

Castaway is based on the novel by Lucy Irvine about a young woman answering an ad in the paper placed by a man seeking a wife, to live with him on an island. Oliver Reed is perfectly cast as the gruff, thickly bearded 50yrs+ man who places the ad. And for once in a brilliant casting decision, an actress was chosen who shares much chemistry with him onscreen! Amanda Donohue is the much younger blonde and an aura of sensuality about her chosen to play his reluctant love interest in the film, Lucy. His young bride is only interested in learning island life, and the frustrated Gerald broods and seethes as young Lucy parades either naked, or wearing the tiniest of loin cloths. She is ever the tease and as she becomes more accustomed to island life, Gerald silently broods in his own lust. She has no interest in this man old enough to be her father, other than basic companionship. Gerald has other ideas. The movie is full of powerful scenes of the struggle of the sexes, and beautifully shot on a gorgeous island. Gerald and Lucy heat up the screen, and it is the contrast in their ages, and physical make-up that only add to the film. The story deals with their trials and tribulations, and contains many interesting twists. It builds up to a fantastic climax that shows the viewer the fate of both characters. Very powerful film, and beautifully cast, Castaway is highly recommended. More films of this nature should be made.

What a shame that the star of "Women in Love" and "Oliver" should end his days with such trash as this and "House of Usher". He overacts all through the movie. Of course, the plot is somewhat ridiculous but is every man's nightmare, "What if you were castaway on a desert island (by your own choice) with a beautiful woman who wouldn't let you near her?" She's a complete tease but is not portrayed as the villainess she actually is. She makes me, a woman, ashamed of my sex.

He is usually the gentleman, but despite the writing, Oliver shows the desperation of the man who really got screwed (and didn't). Can't waste any more time on this trivia. Oh, yes, I own the movie in case anyone wants it.

This is yet another one of those movies that tries to study complex or unusual male-female relationships and thus what any particular viewer will get out of it depends upon that viewer's own life experience. Another reviewer here characterized the relationship in this film as being between "two selfish morons" and that is about the way I took it as well. If you have ever been in a long-term relationship with a selfish partner you will see a lot that looks familiar here, and as a tool to help sort out your own feelings and make sense of your own experiences you might find watching this useful. Otherwise, I'm not sure what purpose the film or the underlying literary treatment it was based on would serve. Basically this movie is about two not-especially likable people who don't really like each other all that much, either, trying to have a relationship together, and the entertainment value you get from that exists right at that level.

Yes, there is a good deal of nudity here involving the heroine, but it is usually not especially erotic; it is presented so matter-of-factly and almost entirely in non-sexual situations (in fact, most often while she is entirely alone) to the point that I got the impression that she was more of a sensualist than anything else, and certainly she was no party girl or anyone else with anything more than an ordinary female interest in sex, if that. Moreover, I never got the impression that she was conspicuously teasing the male lead as some other reviewers seem to have indicated, beyond the mere fact that she was there with him on this same island with nothing or nobody else around, and granting that such circumstances alone might make for some of the subtlest and most provoking kind of erotic torment possible. Certainly there are women in real life capable of the same.

The male main figure is no less selfish in his own way, and the mere fact that at his age he can't think of any way to bed this woman other to demand sex like a love-sick college freshman shows it as well as anything else. For a man of his maturity to behave the way he does certainly justifies the description of "lecher" given him by some other reviewers. Whatever complaints might be assessed against his would-be mate, he certainly didn't make much effort to treat her very well. If the dummy had done just a few simple things to make her feel good about herself for having made the decision to shack up with him on this island for a year, they both would likely have had a much better time. But he was too selfish or at least too self-absorbed to see that, something that is shown in the film to be just as true of his life before the island (and which, indeed, would explain his reason for wanting to be there in the first place).

What some of the movie reviewers more talented than I have said on here about the cinematography and so forth is true; those aspects of the film as as good as any, and make me wonder if this film wouldn't be better watched over a glass of wine or two and the right music on your stereo while the sound on the TV is turned OFF.