Being Human Movie Review 1994

Ambitious comedy drama promises more than it delivers, and shackles Williams in the process. Hector (Williams) is a regular guy continuously reincarnated throughout the milennia. He plays a caveman, a Roman slave, a Middle Ages nomad, a crew member on a 17th century new world voyage, and a modern New Yorker in separate vignettes that echo and/or extend the main themes of family, identity, and random fate. But he manages to emerge from each sketch as an unassuming everyman who never learns his lesson. One of Williams' periodic chancy ventures away from his comedic roots occasionally strikes gold, but often seems overly restrained.

Distribution

Warner Home Video, Inc., 5775 Linder Canyon Rd., Westlake Village, CA 91362, URL: http://whv.warnerbros.com, Remarks: Does not handle retail queries from consumers; contact your local video distributor.

Available on VHS
Running time 122 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Comedy Drama, Time Travel, Family Ties, Medieval Romps, Big Ideas, Cave People, The Meaning of Life, Slavery

Screenplay

Bill Forsyth

Cast

Robin Williams, John Turturro, Anna Galiena, Vincent D'Onofrio, Hector Elizondo, Lorraine Bracco, Lindsay Crouse, Kelly Hunter, William H. Macy, Grace Mahlaba, Theresa Russell, Charles Miller, Helen Miller

Cinematography

Michael Coulter

Director

Bill Forsyth

Music

Michael Gibbs

Producer

Robert F. Colesberry, David Puttnam, Enigma Productions, Fujisankei Comm., British Sky Broadcasting, Natwest Ventures, Warner Bros.