A Cock and Bull Story gets credit for effort

A Cock and Bull Story

Director: Michael Winterbottom

Cast: Steve Coogan, Ronnie Ancona, Keeley Hawes

Now let’s see if we got this right: director Winterbottom makes a film - within a film - of one of literature’s least filmable books, some say least readable: Laurence Stern’s The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman.

Shandy is, in truth, one heck of a work to try to capture on screen and Winterbottom deserves much credit for the effort. That he doesn’t quite succeed - who could? - is beside the point.

Coogan, as Shandy, hasn’t quite managed a substantial transfer from radio and television to the cinema but, again, his efforts deserve one small cheer at least.

Star Rating: 2/5