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7.4/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 7.4/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. I've Been Around remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Look, if you are the type who likes old-school, slightly dusty black-and-white dramas, you might find a bit of comfort here. If you prefer movies that actually move at a human pace or have, you know, a point, you should probably steer clear. It is the kind of movie that is perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon where you are only half-watching anyway.
The whole thing is basically rich girl meets regular guy. You have seen this dance a thousand times before. Sometimes it feels like they are just reading lines off a cue card that got left out in the rain.
There is this one scene where the engineer—I won't bore you with his name—tries to explain how he works. He talks for about five minutes straight. I think I actually nodded off for a second. It is the kind of dialogue that sounds like it was written by someone who has never actually had a conversation with another human being.
If you want something with a bit more punch, you might be better off digging up The Sport Parade or maybe even Scaramouche for the sheer drama of it all. This film just sort of drifts along. It’s not necessarily bad, but it isn’t going to change your life either.
The pacing is a bit of a mess. One minute they are at a fancy dinner, and the next they are in some industrial setting that looks like it was made of cardboard. It’s charming in a low-budget, we-hope-you-don't-notice kind of way.
I found myself staring at the wallpaper in the background of the drawing-room scenes more than I was listening to the plot. Is that a bad sign? Maybe. But the wallpaper was nice, in a weird, floral, mid-century way.
It’s fine. It’s just fine. Sometimes movies don't have to be great to be worth having on in the background while you fold laundry. 🧺