Watch Being There

Being There is a 1979 American comedy-drama film directed by Hal Ashby and starring Peter Sellers, Shirley MacLaine, and Melvyn Douglas. The movie is based on a novel written by Jerzy Kosinski. The film tells the story of Chance, a simple-minded gardener who has spent his entire life living and working in a wealthy man's estate in Washington, D.C. He has never left the estate and has no knowledge of the outside world except for what he has seen on television. Chance's entire life revolves around maintaining the garden, watching TV, and taking care of Mr. Rand, the estate's owner.

However, things change when Mr. Rand dies, forcing Chance to leave the estate and venture out into the outside world for the first time. After a chance encounter with a businessman, Chance sets out on a journey that takes him from the privileged world of rich businessmen to the halls of power in Washington, where he becomes a trusted advisor to the President of the United States.

The movie is a satire on politics, television, and modern society, and it is one of Peter Sellers' most memorable performances. He portrays Chance as an innocent man who is clueless about the world around him, but whose simple-mindedness is mistaken for wisdom by the powerful people he meets.

Shirley MacLaine plays Eve, a wealthy socialite who becomes infatuated with Chance, mistaking his simple statements for deep insights. Melvyn Douglas plays Ben Rand, the wealthy old man whose death sets Chance on his journey.

Being There is a poignant and humorous film that explores themes of identity, perception, and society's fascination with power and wealth. It is a film that has become a classic for its memorable performances, smart script, and timeless humor.

Throughout the movie, we see Chance's simplistic outlook on the world collide with the complex nature of politics and society. The interactions between Chance and the people he meets are often comical, but they also reveal the hypocrisies and contradictions of modern society.

The film is set against the backdrop of America in the late 1970s, a time of social and political upheaval. The movie reflects this through its sharp commentary on the media's influence on public perception, as well as the power dynamics at play in Washington.

Overall, Being There is a touching and thought-provoking movie that highlights the importance of connection and understanding in an increasingly complex world. Peter Sellers gives a powerful performance that is both humorous and moving, while the film's social commentary remains relevant today.

Being There is a 1979 comedy with a runtime of 2 hours and 10 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.9 and a MetaScore of 83.