Rhinoceros (1973)

Eugene Ionesco's famous absurdist play may have had major sociopolitical resonance in its original form but here, reshuffled and moved to America and captured on film, the product feels muddled and curious. Whether Ionesco's work is actually adaptable to film in any form is another matter entirely, but what can we do. Gene Wilder tries hard but can't do much with his role; Zero Mostel chews the scenery to pieces in one of the most embarassingly unrestrained performances I've seen in some time.

Grade: C