Down in the Sellers

Sellers was a complex, and not very nice man, full of inner-turmoil and self-doubt; catching such a difficult subject for a screen bio was never going to be easy.

The Life and Death of Peter Sellers

Director: Stephen Hopkins

Cast: Geoffrey Rush, Charlize Theron, Emily Watson, John Lithgow, Miriam Margoyles

Cert: 15.

Sellers - of Pink Panther, The Goons and a clutch of outstanding British films fame - was a complex, and not very nice man, full of inner-turmoil and self-doubt; catching such a difficult subject for a screen bio was never going to be easy.

But, for all that it has its faults, Hopkins and his excellent cast manage, if not always then certainly often enough, to capture the nature of the man and the nature of comedy.

The main strength of the film lies in the portrayal of Sellers by that outstandingly talented Australian actor, Rush, and of one of Seller’s several wives, Britt Ekland, by Theron. There is also a fine performance from the always-excellent, if not always fully regognised, Lithgow as Pink Panther director, Blake Edwards.

It was never going to be easy, but this is probably the nearest we will ever get to understanding, even a little bit, Sellers.

Another Oscar for Rush?

Star Rating: 4/5