What do you do if you were to go back in time to (what seems like) a simpler era?
Would you even want to? In a premise loosely borrowed from an old Twilight Zone
episode ("Next Stop, Willoughby"), we watch what happens when someone gets the
chance.
In Pleasantville, we get to see good acting and a great story. It works on so many
different levels, but even if you succumb to the surface story of going back, you'll be
entertained by the differences of life in the TV world of twin beds and black-and-white.
Beneath the surface, though, is a statement of the human condition. We see what happens
when someone "different" enters a closed society. We see the erosion of
innocence... of paradise lost (with a nice Biblical analogy in there). We see how people's
fear can turn into hatred, and how new ideas and forms of expression are to be cherished.
There's also the "be yourself" element. So many themes and levels, and a great
story to boot.
The acting is entertaining and believable, with a surprise appearance by Don Knotts in a
charming role. (well, it won't be a surprise for you now!) <smile> The
cinematography was outstanding as the use of color was dazzling and ultra-appealilng. You
can go simply for the computer-enhanced photography and you'd get your money's worth. But
if you get the slightest bit cerebral, you'll witness a film that is "genius" --
one that would be instructive in high school classes for years to come. A 10 [Hale]