The Life and Death of Peter Sellers

…Sees the enormously talented Geoffrey Rush take on the demanding role of Sellers, a man who himself professed he had no personality of his own and was merely an empty vessel into which his various roles were poured. The sheer number of different characters that Sellers played gives Rush a task so daunting he had previously turned down the chance to take on the role. At the second time of asking though he proves to have captured the thrill and excitement of Sellers in all his biggest film roles and at the same time brought to life the often cruel and childish personality of this legendary actor.

The film uses frequent moments of magic realism in which Sellers becomes the various major characters in his own life in an attempt to

explain his own actions through their eyes. These moments are designed to show a different facet of Sellers’ character but really only manage to show another example of just how selfish the man was and could be. These episodes add to the overall spectacle and fun of the film and give it a refreshing quality of the unpredictable. Sellers’ movie roles and his life of glamour and excess sweep you along in an enjoyable romp that gives the film great pace and makes it a wonderful piece of escapism.

On the other hand the film struggles to reveal what drove the comic genius of Sellers, only managing to show the sometimes devastating effects of his unchecked outbursts that seemed to stem from his mothers ruthless ambition for her son. Whilst this influence explains some of the less desirable elements of his dealings with other people it does not explain Sellers’ desire to be a comic actor, only his passion to succeed as one.

At moments Rush is so perfectly Sellers that his performance is eerie. His recreation of some of his most famous film roles is perfect and as Sellers the man he shows the actors ability to veer from irresistibly charming to viciously cruel throughout his long career and many waistline changes.

This is not a flattering portrait of Sellers but as an impartial viewer who appreciates the great talent he undoubtedly was it is a great and thoroughly enjoyable spectacle and Rush is worth the ticket price alone.

And an abridged version:

Geoffrey Rush IS Peter Sellers...

There are moments when Peter Sellers is alive once more...

The film is a dizzy waltz through one of the most glamorous and exciting British careers, capturing the atmosphere of the passing decades perfectly as Sellers reels through them. While it manages to show the life and personality that few outside the film industry would have seen, the film still manages to leave unanswered the interesting question of just what made Sellers the genius he was.