Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?

It took me 3 tries to get through 1966's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Not because it is boring or a bad film, but because it is so tense. Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor star as a middle aged married couple who are in one of those toxic relationships where they compete to see you can make the other more miserable. They are both deeply unsatisfied with where they are in life and rather than accept their disappointments, they blame each other. Even though they are grown adults, they are still children emotionally and don't really understand how a relationship works. They are dependant on each other, but they both expect to be takers without giveing anything back in return. Their poision spills over when they have a young couple over for the night, playd by George Segal and Sandy Dennis. The couple make a game of fighting in front of the young couple, even bringing them into their arguments and ultimately leading to act as a catalyst for the young couples own problems. This is an excellent study of relationships and I hate that there are couples out there that are actually like this. Couples that make each other dread waking up and rather than foster growth in each other, they hamper it by being over bearing, jealous, and controlling. This film makes me realize how lucky I am to have someone like Kassy. We might argue and bicker here and there, but we are far from Toxic. The fact that she is supportive of a project like this one shows that she is a very patient soul and I love her for it. Anyway, back to the film. The foursome cast put on an acting clinic in this film. This is very difficult material filled with lots of emotiona and dark places and the cast goes there unapologetically. All four principle cast meber were nominated for Oscars, and Taylor and Dennis won them. The direction by first time director Mike Nicols is spectacular. He stages every scene with an uncomfortable closeness that made me feel like I was a peeping tom, watching this train wreck that these people were creating for themselves. Kassy said it best when she described the film as making her feel awkward the whole time. It's no wonder Nicols would go on the direct other great films such as The Graduate and Closer. Finally, I want to mention cinematographer Haskell Wexler, Who also served as cinematographer for In The Heat of The Night and One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest among others. His photography brings a realism to the movie and I like how he chooses to focus in on certain background objects, such as the roadhouse sign when George and Martha are fighting outside. He also deservedly won an Oscar for this film. I highly suggest that you put this film in whenever you have relationship problems. I guarantee it will put your problems in perspective. If you still feel like your relationship is in trouble, then for your sake, end it immediately!