The Stunt Man Review: Peter O'Toole's Gleefully Deranged Hollywood Satire
Richard Rush's cult 1980 comedy-drama The Stunt Man makes a triumphant return to UK cinemas, offering a blistering satire of Hollywood hubris anchored by Peter O'Toole's imperious, Oscar-nominated performance. This high-concept film transforms the chaotic world of movie-making into a surreal battlefield, where art, war, and cruelty collide with lasting menace.
A Distinctive Gem in O'Toole's Filmography
For nearly five decades, The Stunt Man has remained one of the most distinctive entries in Peter O'Toole's storied career. His portrayal of autocratic director Eli Cross earned him yet another Oscar nomination, though, like several others, it went unconverted. In many respects, this film serves as a fascinating B-side to his legendary role in Lawrence of Arabia, exploring a character whose innate leadership gifts endanger everyone around him far more than himself.
Blurring the Lines Between Fact and Fiction
The narrative follows Eli Cross, a megalomaniacal director overseeing a spectacular First World War action drama complete with exploding planes and daring stunts. He swoops around in his helicopter, perches godlike on camera cranes, and issues vinegary putdowns while recklessly cutting corners on safety. When his stunt man drowns during a dangerous bridge sequence, Eli seizes an opportunity to cover up the incident.
His salvation arrives in the form of Cameron, a troubled Vietnam veteran played by Steve Railsback, who is on the run from the police. Cameron blunders onto the set and eagerly assumes the deceased stunt man's identity, his natural desperation making him fearless in the face of danger. The capricious Eli finds amusement in Cameron's plight, knowing he can demand anything from him without complaint.
A Dysfunctional Film Family During Wartime
Complications arise when Cameron falls for the film's leading lady, Nina, portrayed by Barbara Hershey, who shares unfinished emotional business with Eli himself. For this dysfunctional film family, with a maniac like O'Toole at its helm, life truly mirrors wartime. The film expertly intercuts sequences of film-making chaos with fictional melodrama, creating a dizzying blur between reality and illusion.
What remains particularly striking are those moments of documentary-like realism, such as Eli presiding over a long, boozy meal with the cast and crew—a practice commonplace in that era. Authentic rage erupts when the first assistant director presumes to call "cut" due to limited film stock, highlighting the volatile atmosphere on set.
Enduring Themes and Cynical Flavour
At its core, The Stunt Man is a multi-layered satire targeting the movie business's hubris and conceit, while also questioning cinema's ability to be genuinely anti-war when it profits from making conflict appear exciting. The black comedy and raucousness are interleaved with fierce, extended moments of seriousness and anguish, adding depth to its cynical, salty flavour.
Cameron and Nina's strange escapade, feeling imprisoned by Eli's whims, culminates in rooftop stunts that genuinely look perilous. Though Cameron's extended speech to Nina about his past and feelings may feel indulgent, it contributes to the film's rich, textured narrative.
The Stunt Man returns to UK cinemas from 6 February, offering audiences a chance to revisit this gleefully deranged masterpiece that continues to challenge and entertain over four decades after its original release.
