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From Amazon.co.uk
Michael Winterbottom is no stranger to literary adaptation. Both Jude and The Claim were drawn from works by Thomas Hardy. Nor is the versatile filmmaker a stranger to the post-modern romp, like 24 Hour Party People. In that peon to Manchester's music scene, Steve Coogan was Factory honcho Tony Wilson. In Winterbottom's take on Laurence Sterne's digressive The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, the prolific helmer combines literature with lunacy and brings Coogan back as the titular character--and then some. Coogan doesn't just portray the 18th century squire, but his father Walter and insecure actor "Steve Coogan." It's a film about the making of a film, effortlessly shifting between Tristram's tumultuous birth and his frustrated adulthood--bogged down in the writing of his life story--and between fiction and (what appears to be) fact. There are no end to the worries on and off the set: Coogan worries his heels aren't high enough, Rob Brydon worries his teeth are too yellow, and Coogan's girlfriend (Kelly Macdonald) worries she isn't seeing enough of him. It may sound like Spike Jonze's Adaptation, but in spirit, it more closely resembles Tony Richardson's Tom Jones. Coogan and his co-stars, particularly Naomie Harris as the ultimate film nut, Gillian Anderson as the American brought in to boost the project's profile, and Brydon as Tristram's Uncle Toby are as game for the challenge as their fearless leader. Consequently, Tristram Shandy isn't just one of Winterbottom's best films--it's one of the year's best. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
Product Description
Michael Winterbottom directs this off-beat comedy about an attempt to film Laurence Sterne's 'unfilmable' 18th century novel 'The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy'. Crossing the line between the world of the film and the life of the actors trying to make it, Steve Coogan plays both himself and Tristram Shandy, while Rob Brydon plays himself and Toby. As both comedians find their working relationship off-set by professional jealousies, in the world of the film, the affable, eccentric Toby is pursued by the beautiful Widow Wadman (Gillian Anderson) as Tristram finds the story of his life increasingly difficult to tell without getting drawn into lengthy digressions.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Odd. Slightly confusing. Lacking in traditional structure...yes.
Intelligent. Chuckle-worthy. Original... Definitely.
A film, about a film about an unfilmable book.
A strange movie, undoubtedly and at first I didn't know how to take it. Was it a love story? Was it a mockumentary? One thing was certain...it was definitely a comedy. Quirky, off-the-wall jokes typical of Steve Coogan's works were a constant in this film.
My favourite aspect of this film was its combination of realism and surrealism making the movie delightful to watch. But another outstanding aspect was its portrayal of relationships; be it the clashing single-sided friendship of Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan, Steve's clashing relationship with the entire crew, Steve's failing relationship with his girlfriend and his sucessful relationship with his new mistress it was all delightful.
The "actors", or the actors portrayal of the actors,'s view of the film at the end of the film was a definite favourite scene.
They say that "The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy" is the unfilmable novel, and similarly this film is the unreviewable film.
I cannot guarantee you'll love it, but it's definitely a one-of-a-kind and definitely worth the risk.
Intelligent. Chuckle-worthy. Original... Definitely.
A film, about a film about an unfilmable book.
A strange movie, undoubtedly and at first I didn't know how to take it. Was it a love story? Was it a mockumentary? One thing was certain...it was definitely a comedy. Quirky, off-the-wall jokes typical of Steve Coogan's works were a constant in this film.
My favourite aspect of this film was its combination of realism and surrealism making the movie delightful to watch. But another outstanding aspect was its portrayal of relationships; be it the clashing single-sided friendship of Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan, Steve's clashing relationship with the entire crew, Steve's failing relationship with his girlfriend and his sucessful relationship with his new mistress it was all delightful.
The "actors", or the actors portrayal of the actors,'s view of the film at the end of the film was a definite favourite scene.
They say that "The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy" is the unfilmable novel, and similarly this film is the unreviewable film.
I cannot guarantee you'll love it, but it's definitely a one-of-a-kind and definitely worth the risk.
14 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
True to the style of the novel until it becomes sidetracked, prolific underachiever Michael Winterbottom's riff on Tristram Shandy, A Cock and Bull Story is a half-decent attempt to film an allegedly unfilmable novel, something it does surprisingly well for about half an hour until it gives up and concentrates instead on the travails of making the movie and the growing paranoia of leading man Steve Coogan as he is increasingly upstaged by Rob Brydon. Unfortunately, as so often on the big screen, Coogan is decidedly awkward at first, and the comedy isn't as biting or funny as you'd like, relying a little too awkwardly on injokes. All too obviously a film of two halves, with the backstage story taking over the movie completely for the best part of an hour before returning to the narrative briefly, it's hard not to feel it would have benefited more from dipping in and out of the novel rather than abandoning it for so long. But there's still much to enjoy, not least Rob Brydon playing a love scene in the style of Roger Moore, though it falls far short of Coogan and Winterbottom's previous collaboration, the excellent 24 Hour Party People.
Although at first sight fairly skimpy on the extras, the DVD offers surprisingly good value - not only does the full interview with Tony Wilson (who Coogan played in 24 Hour Party People) appear as promised in the film, but the deleted and extended sequences, though few in number, are longer than expected.
Although at first sight fairly skimpy on the extras, the DVD offers surprisingly good value - not only does the full interview with Tony Wilson (who Coogan played in 24 Hour Party People) appear as promised in the film, but the deleted and extended sequences, though few in number, are longer than expected.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Sam
Format:DVD
When trying to film an unfilmable book, why not just film the process of filming an unfilmable book and leave it at that? Therefore, `A Cock and Bull Story' comes into being, a fictionalised film about a group of Brits trying to film `Tristram Shandy'. Michael Winterbottom has always been a maverick director who likes to span genres as well as experiment in film. I came across `Cock and Bull' after watching the 6 part TV series `The Trip'. Like the show `Cock and Bull' stars Steve Coogan and to a lesser degree, Rob Brydon. The two are also similar in that the banter between the actors is a core element of the film; half-truth, half fiction; elements of their real lives are interwoven into the improvisation.
Where things start to differ is in the narrative. `Cock and Bull' is an unconventional film, but it is no less entertaining for it. Elements from the finished `Tristram Shandy' film are spliced with the cast and crew making the film, and the dramas that go on backstage. The film is less about the film adaptation process and more a character study of a group of people. It is Coogan, as his alter ego self and Tristram, who carries the film. He is self-deprecating, funny and willing to play with the stereotypes that the media have created for him. In the film he is a lady's man trying to settle down, but finding it difficult. Where does the fiction start and end? You never find out and are not supposed to.
In the end some people will come out of `A Cock and Bull Story' a little confused, not much happens and you never discover if an unfilmable book is in fact filmable. However, this is never the real point of the film and as a funny, yet sad, human drama I found it incredibly interesting. One for the film curious.
Where things start to differ is in the narrative. `Cock and Bull' is an unconventional film, but it is no less entertaining for it. Elements from the finished `Tristram Shandy' film are spliced with the cast and crew making the film, and the dramas that go on backstage. The film is less about the film adaptation process and more a character study of a group of people. It is Coogan, as his alter ego self and Tristram, who carries the film. He is self-deprecating, funny and willing to play with the stereotypes that the media have created for him. In the film he is a lady's man trying to settle down, but finding it difficult. Where does the fiction start and end? You never find out and are not supposed to.
In the end some people will come out of `A Cock and Bull Story' a little confused, not much happens and you never discover if an unfilmable book is in fact filmable. However, this is never the real point of the film and as a funny, yet sad, human drama I found it incredibly interesting. One for the film curious.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By tallmanbaby
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:DVD
I came to this film as a long time fan of the book Tristram Shandy. The film does indeed feature some of the funniest sequences from the book. However the overall effect is of a rather oddly put together greatest hits collection.
We get
Tristram Shandy's accident with the window
Tristram's uncle going on about the battle where he was injured
We also get
some music from the Draughtsman's Contract
some not bad period shooting
There is also a mix of comedy stylings from Steve Coogan, doing a sour star in the style of numerous recent TV faux documentary comedies, doing pantomime when a hot chestnut is dropped into his trousers [the only bit that had me laughing out loud], a running strand of meditation on film-making as in La Nuit Americaine [DVD].
However the dominant element is the bickering between Coogan and Brydon, it is not clear whether it is scripted or improvised.
In theory there is no reason why this should not work, if the various elements complimented each other, but most viewers are likely to find it dull and frustrating for a chunk of the viewing time. Although Gillian Anderson is game, she is only in the film for about ten minutes, oddly Keeley Hawes, though great in the Tristram Shandy elements, does not participate in the lengthy improvised scenes. You wonder if they were signed up when the script looked very different.
In the end it is one of those self indulgent films that was probably more fun to make than it was to watch. It is not really bad, but considering the source material, one of the greatest and most entertaining modernist books ever written, it is not all that good either.
We get
Tristram Shandy's accident with the window
Tristram's uncle going on about the battle where he was injured
We also get
some music from the Draughtsman's Contract
some not bad period shooting
There is also a mix of comedy stylings from Steve Coogan, doing a sour star in the style of numerous recent TV faux documentary comedies, doing pantomime when a hot chestnut is dropped into his trousers [the only bit that had me laughing out loud], a running strand of meditation on film-making as in La Nuit Americaine [DVD].
However the dominant element is the bickering between Coogan and Brydon, it is not clear whether it is scripted or improvised.
In theory there is no reason why this should not work, if the various elements complimented each other, but most viewers are likely to find it dull and frustrating for a chunk of the viewing time. Although Gillian Anderson is game, she is only in the film for about ten minutes, oddly Keeley Hawes, though great in the Tristram Shandy elements, does not participate in the lengthy improvised scenes. You wonder if they were signed up when the script looked very different.
In the end it is one of those self indulgent films that was probably more fun to make than it was to watch. It is not really bad, but considering the source material, one of the greatest and most entertaining modernist books ever written, it is not all that good either.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Strange
Sort of funny in a weird way, but barely. Very odd. Not one of Steve Coogan's best by any means. I think it was his attempt at producing an "art-y" film.
Published 6 months ago by klsnc
1.0 out of 5 stars
Certainly well named
This load of cock and bull is just that - an indulgent load of garbage - truly awful.
I wish I could award NO stars! Read more
I wish I could award NO stars! Read more
Published 13 months ago by Donna Tello
4.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting Project that almost Works....
I loved the opening scene, a parody and rip off of Peter Greenaway's 'The Draughtsman's Contract' with its jaunty Elizabethan sounding chamber music and the actors walking around... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Tim Kidner
2.0 out of 5 stars
A cock and Bull non-story.
As a fan of Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon but more especially 'Tristam Shandy' I have to admit to a degree of disappointment with this film. Read more
Published 20 months ago by os
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not as good as it looked from the trailer..
I was disappointed by the actual film, which I found to be a little up its own a*se and not particularly funny.
Published 21 months ago by jay
1.0 out of 5 stars
Tripe
What utter rubbish this is! Love Coogan and Brydon (not in this), but if you buy this you'll be conned. It seems almost written purely to entertain actors and film crews. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Iain
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fast, Well Crafted and Imaginative
This is almost unique. A Comedy period drama that interacts cleverly with the pseudo 'real life' of the actors as they make it and draws subtle parallels with the Novel. Read more
Published 23 months ago by OISÍN
4.0 out of 5 stars
I liked it
The film loses momentum but it made milk come out of my nose at one point so that's a win. If you've ever laughed at Adam Sandler then I'd give this a miss.
Published on 15 Jun 2011 by Ian Hamlett
5.0 out of 5 stars
It is true, I am sure, that you will either love it or hate it...
The earlier reviewer was spot on, I'm sure. Personally, I think this attempt to film what many said was unfilmable, is excellent. Read more
Published on 6 Dec 2010 by G. D. Busby
1.0 out of 5 stars
No Worse Film Has Ever Been Made !!!
I write this review as a fan of Steve Coogan, & (nearly) all of his amazing hilarious C.V. (The Day Today, Alan Partridge, Tony Ferrino, Paul Calf... etc etc). Read more
Published on 5 April 2010
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