Throughout the history of cinema, many films have been made that today are extremely important.
Either because of the actors who starred in it, because of the history, or because of the innovations that they brought to the time, these have come to be recognized as classics, and it is almost a must to see them.
Streaming platforms are trying to include more of these titles in their catalogs every time, but there is no doubt that HBO Max is one of the ones with the greatest offer. In this way, we can find many classics on the platform, however, today we will focus on one that has been highly praised by critics.
We are talking about Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? a dramatic film from 1966 that marked the debut of director Mike Nichols and featured the leading role of the great Elizabeth Taylor. It is based on the popular play of the same name written by Edward Albee in 1962 and to this day, it is considered one of the most important films in the history of cinema.
The story takes place one night at the home of a couple made up of George (Richard Burton), a history teacher and alcoholic, and Martha (Elizabeth Taylor), his frustrated wife. The couple has been together for decades, but as time passes, their relationship deteriorates, to the point that they no longer tolerate each other.
The hatred that these two have for each other leads them to constantly subject themselves to situations of verbal and psychological abuse, and one night, they decide to invite a young couple to dinner. However, as time passes and the alcohol begins to take effect, Martha and George get involved in a dangerous game of hostility, violence, and humiliation.
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? became an extremely successful and praised film, to the point that it became the first film in history to be nominated for all eligible categories at the Oscars. The film gave Elizabeth Taylor her second and last Oscar for Best Actress and also marked the fourth of the eleven films where the interpreter shared the screen with her husband, Richard Burton, with whom she starred in one of the most controversial and famous marriages in Hollywood.
The film has been highly praised for various reasons, but mainly for the performances of its cast, which featured George Segal and Sandy Dennis in supporting roles as the guest couple. Also, Mike Nichols got a lot of praise for directing him, especially considering that it was his first film.
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? It is considered a movie classic and one of the best films in Elizabeth Taylor's career. Curiously, for the year in which it was released (1966), the films were already in color, but for narrative and also aesthetic reasons, the director decided that it should be in black and white, adding much more drama to the story.
The truth is that the film joins the long batch of classics hosted by HBO Max, but without a doubt, it stands out as one of the best. Throughout its little more than two hours, its protagonists offer a master class in acting, and its plot hooks you in such a way that you don't know what's going to happen next. In addition, the ending has a twist that will leave you speechless. Without a doubt, it is a movie that you cannot ignore and that you must see at least once in your life. Do not miss it!
