This TV play has dated badly because it is filmed on a very closeup video tape rather than being filmed with any kind of flashbacks to the actual crime for which school mistress Jean Harris (Ellen Burstyn) is on trial for. It's difficult to watch because at two and a half hours, it's like watching a filmed stage play, fine if there's movement, people coming and going in long shots, but barely above the quality of an in house filming meant for archiving purposes rather than public exposition.
I'd love to say that Burstyn is excellent because she's one of my all time favorite actresses, but she's awkward to watch, and I felt cheated by seeing only one side of the story rather than the full dimensions of her situation.
It was difficult to get a point of view based on the structure, and several witnesses (including one who had a wig like Vicki Lawrence's on "Mama's Family") made me giggle unintentionally. Martin Balsam and Peter Coyote as the attorneys and Richard Dysart are restrained but unfortunately dull. This is one of those movies that requires a lot of patience to even get into let alone watch all of it.
I'd love to say that Burstyn is excellent because she's one of my all time favorite actresses, but she's awkward to watch, and I felt cheated by seeing only one side of the story rather than the full dimensions of her situation.
It was difficult to get a point of view based on the structure, and several witnesses (including one who had a wig like Vicki Lawrence's on "Mama's Family") made me giggle unintentionally. Martin Balsam and Peter Coyote as the attorneys and Richard Dysart are restrained but unfortunately dull. This is one of those movies that requires a lot of patience to even get into let alone watch all of it.