Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Directed by Mike Nichols, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? details the arguments that ensue after a bickering couple (Richard Burton’s George and Elizabeth Taylor’s Martha) invite a younger duo (George Segal’s Nick and Sandy Dennis’ Honey) to their home. Filmmaker Nichols, armed with a script by Ernest Lehman, delivers an erratic yet sporadically electrifying drama that benefits from its searing, engrossing performances, as the picture boasts stellar work from its quartet of actors that remains a continuing highlight within the proceedings – with, in particular, Burton and Taylor’s often spellbinding efforts going a long way towards smoothing over the narrative’s various bumps and lulls. It’s disappointing, then, to note that Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?‘s overall impact is diminished significantly by an ongoing emphasis on digressions of a less-than-enthralling nature, which, when coupled with a palpably bloated 132 minute running time, ensures that the picture is rarely as consistently compelling as Nichols has no doubt intended. The end result is a watchable endeavor that generally feels like it should be much, much better, and it’s clear, ultimately, the the movie succeeds predominantly as a showcase for four undeniably incredible, indelible performances.

**1/2 out of ****