LIFE AND DEATH OF PETER SELLERS isn’t presented as the usual “based on true events” life story movie. It has a lot of breaks from the norm/reality starting with the opening credits. 

The movie opens with Peter Sellers (Geoffrey Rush) emerging from his trailer, which has his name on it. He walks onto the movie set while the crew is busy setting up and sits in a chair with his name on it. He looks into the camera and gestures that he doesn’t have any words to express himself. He then switches on the TV in front of him. The camera zooms into the TV screen and the credits roll. The credits are animated like THE PINK PANTHER movie credits and WHAT’S NEW PUSSY CAT by Tom Jones is playing.

Other departures from reality include scenes where Peter Sellers is with someone and then when Peter is out of the shot they tell their perception of him however it is Geoffrey Rush dressed up like the character that is talking about Peter Sellers. It’s insightful and disturbing but very interesting.

The film has an excellent cast of supporting actors and Geoffrey Rush definitely pulls off being Peter Sellers. THE LIFE AND DEATH OF PETER SELLERS is a must see for anyone fascinated by Peter Sellers or Geoffrey Rush fans or even just plain old movie buffs.

CAST: Geoffrey Rush, Charlize Theron, Emily Watson, Miriam Margolyes, Stephen Fry, John Lithgow and Stanley Tucci
DIRECTOR: Stephen Hopkins
RUNNING TIME: 122 minutes
AGE RESTICTION: 13SL
GENRE: Drama
RELEASE DATE: 27 May 2005
RATING: 9/10

“It’s Geoffrey Rush Playing Peter Sellers!”

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Review by Punjabi_Goth for Africasgateway.com

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