Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Right now you can watch Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? In Australia on HBO Max, and in the UK on HBO Max Amazon Channel and Now TV — and it holds up to as much attention as you give it. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. 923 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Elizabeth Taylor sets the tone, and the rest of the cast matches it scene for scene. Start it on HBO Max whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Is worth clearing space for. The writing in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Treats its characters as people first, plot devices second. A history professor and his wife entertain a young couple who are new to the university's faculty. As the drinks flow, secrets come to light, and the middle-aged couple unload onto their guests the full force of the bitterness, dysfunction, and animosity that defines their marriage. Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1966. The performances in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Do a lot of work in the silences between the dialogue. The hit rate here is high enough that skipping ahead never feels like an option.

Drama fans who appreciate slow-burn storytelling will feel right at home with Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Elizabeth Taylor is the centre of it, and it is one of their strongest performances on record. The patience it asks of you early on is paid back with interest.