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Prick Up Your Ears Reviews

1987

70
from 2784 members

This unadorned biography of playwright Joe Orton (Gary Oldman) charts his bawdy, dangerous relationships. Alfred Molina plays Orton's brutish lover, Kenneth Halliwell, a pathetic figure who becomes horrific and then tragic before the film is over. The hilarity of scenes from such Orton plays as Loot and What the Butler Saw is .. Read more

Starring	Gary Oldman, Alfred Molina, Vanessa Redgrave, Julie Walters
Director	Stephen Frears
Genres	Drama

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Most helpful member's review of Prick Up Your Ears
View all members' reviews (21)
- - 10
  - 0
  Suberb Acting.....
  
  from the entire cast and the atmosphere of the film is set just right in this film on the life and death of Joe Orton. A little more on information about the ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 6090
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Hurdlemagurdle
  - 77 reviews
  - Scotland
  - 19 May 2004 at 13:35
Most recent members' reviews of Prick Up Your Ears
View all members' reviews (21)
- - 0
  - 0
  My ears were pricked up but not for long!
  
  This started off very well and caught my interest instantly but this interest soon waned and I ended up turning the film off after about half an hour.
  
  Report this review
- 1116617
- - gingerspike
  - 289 reviews
  - Grimsby
  - 04 May 2012 at 19:23
- - 0
  - 0
  A Cracking Bio-Pic
  
  A cracking Bio-Pic about the life of Joe Orton, superbly played by Gary Oldman.
  
  It’s a little bit raunchy and horrific at times, but is true to ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1074153
- - a customer
  - 17 Dec 2011 at 17:01
- - 2
  - 0
  Engaging biopic
  
  Use of flashbacks as narrative device feels a bit confusing when the characters don't seem to age.
  
  Otherwise it was really engaging.
  
  Report this review
- 1027231
- - a customer
  - 09 Aug 2011 at 19:45
- - 0
  - 2
  Did not capture me as expected
  
  Found this dragged on and bored me by the end. Can't even explain much about the story line as it washed over me.
  
  Report this review
- 748808
- - a customer
  - Nottingham
  - 27 Apr 2009 at 14:58
- - 2
  - 0
  Enjoyable
  
  I was expecting to enjoy this film, having read the Radio Times' review. The time seemed to fly by. The film seemed to end too soon, as I was enjoying it ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 681470
- - a customer
  - Newbury
  - 05 Jan 2009 at 09:34
- - 1
  - 1
  Dated and boring!
  
  so boring i forgot i had watched it before!
  
  Report this review
- 678333
- - a customer
  - london
  - 29 Dec 2008 at 15:04
- - 0
  - 0
  Oldman captures Orton excellently
  
  Rented this as I was near finishing reading a book compiling Orton's plays, and the spirit of Orton seems to come across fairly well in this film (never ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 669648
- - a customer
  - london
  - 06 Dec 2008 at 21:51
- - 1
  - 1
  Prick Up Your Ears
  
  We found this film distasteful and was devoid of any entertainment value.
  
  Report this review
- 649767
- - a customer
  - Andover
  - 26 Oct 2008 at 08:40
- - 0
  - 0
  Interesting
  
  THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS | Show review anywayHide
  
  This is the story of British playwright Joe Orton from his rise to fame, his open homosexuality at a time when it was not socially accepted, and his untimely ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 646648
- - CharlieLinton
  - 24 reviews
  - Basingstoke
  - 20 Oct 2008 at 14:52
- - 0
  - 0
  Prick up your ears
  
  Coming from Leicester I have read most of J.Ortons work and boigraphy and Mr Oldman playing Joe looked so very much like him, and got his personality spot on. ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 521628
- - a customer
  - Leicester
  - 03 Feb 2008 at 20:43
View all members' reviews (21)

- - 10
  - 0
  Suberb Acting.....
  
  from the entire cast and the atmosphere of the film is set just right in this film on the life and death of Joe Orton. A little more on information about the ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 6090
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Hurdlemagurdle
  - 77 reviews
  - Scotland
  - 19 May 2004 at 13:35
- - 6
  - 0
  Very well done movie!
  
  This movie, about Joe Orton (British playwright) and his dysfunctional relationship with Kenneth Halliwell is fascinating, and very well acted. Orton (in the ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 8441
- - Bruce M
  - Oxford, England
  - 27 Jun 2004 at 12:00
- - 4
  - 0
  Prick up your ears
  
  Orton certainly knew Halliwell and used him to his advantage. A film I hope kept to the truth. Well acted and worth watching. This is the life story of Joe ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 64275
- - a customer
  - George from Liverpool England
  - 14 Jan 2005 at 18:54
- - 3
  - 0
  Outstanding
  
  A first rate screen addaptation of the book. Great turns all round. The neighbour giving a great comedy performance 'My vagina blew up like a football' ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 20220
- - Michael
  - London
  - 01 Oct 2004 at 12:15
- - 2
  - 0
  Enjoyable
  
  I was expecting to enjoy this film, having read the Radio Times' review. The time seemed to fly by. The film seemed to end too soon, as I was enjoying it ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 681470
- - a customer
  - Newbury
  - 05 Jan 2009 at 09:34
- - 2
  - 0
  Engaging biopic
  
  Use of flashbacks as narrative device feels a bit confusing when the characters don't seem to age.
  
  Otherwise it was really engaging.
  
  Report this review
- 1027231
- - a customer
  - 09 Aug 2011 at 19:45
- - 1
  - 0
  Enjoyable Period Piece
  
  The subject matter seems a world way but its of course set in the 50s & 60s, a strong cast deliver and is an enjoyable film.
  
  Report this review
- 86405
- - The DVD Gremlin
  - London, England
  - 30 Mar 2005 at 13:24
- - 1
  - 0
  ok
  
  Quite a gripping tALe. I find films set in this era regarding homosexuality quite intersting
  
  Report this review
- 105014
- - Peter Langdon
  - uk
  - 19 May 2005 at 11:17
- - 0
  - 0
  Enjoyable
  
  An enjoyable biopic that tells an interesting story. If you've not seen this then it's one to watch.
  
  Report this review
- 211263
- - a customer
  - York
  - 25 Feb 2006 at 10:50
- - 2
  - 2
  Interesting
  
  This film provides an interesting account of the playwright Joe Orton and looks particularly closely at his relationship with Kenneth Haliwell. Great cameo ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 310434
- - NathanC
  - Essex
  - 29 Sep 2004 at 18:22

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Buy from Amazon.co.uk

- - Buy
- Prick Up Your Ears
  
  This unadorned biography of playwright Joe Orton (Gary Oldman) charts his bawdy, dangerous relationships. Alfred Molina plays Orton's brutish lover, Kenneth Halliwell, a pathetic figure who becomes horrific and then tragic before the film is over. The hilarity of scenes from such Orton plays as ...