Tim - Un uomo da odiare

This is one of the better films I have seen starring Mel Gibson. A low budget, Australian film, made in the late seventies, it is a real change from his usual offerings. The basic plot outline (promise I won't spoil! :)) is that Gibson plays the title role of Tim, a 24 year-old man who is slightly mentally retarded. Piper Laurie excels as 'Mary Horton' a successful forty-something widow who takes a romantic interest in Tim, but is unsure if a relationship will work.

The thing that struck me about this movie was it's basic principle. It is not uncommon for rich, forty-something men to be seen with attractive, supposedly less-intelligent women. 'Tim' turns this on its head having a rich, older woman hooking up with an attractive, less intelligent younger man. Society frowns on the latter form relationship, I'm not sure why, and it adds an interesting angle to the story.

The only complaint about the film is the ending. They had such a fantastic idea but the movie just...ends. Loose ends are left and to be honest it seemed tacked on or just plain rushed.

It is a good, heartwarming film with a few weepy bits and one-or-two good ideas not explored well enough but still entertaining nonetheless.

I actually really enjoyed this. Its a simple, sweet movie with fantastic acting from all involved. The fact that it was made in 1979 only makes it that much more fun to watch. Mel Gibson (in one of his earliest roles) is VERY nice to look at (remember "that" Mel) and he spends most of the movie smiling while running around in Stubbies and a singlet (American translation wee, wee Magnum PI shorts and a tank top) we even get a speedo at one point.

The story follows a middle aged American woman (played brilliantly by Piper Laurie) who hires a simple minded handyman, 24 year old "Tim" as her gardener. The two develop a friendship, she teaches him to read and takes him on trips to the beach.

Their relationship eventually turns romantic following the death of Tim's mother. At first Mary denies her feelings, Tim experiences jealousy and then his father asks Mary to look after Tim when he passes.

I really enjoyed the family dynamic here, both of the parents were fantastic, just great acting in this, and I fell a bit in love with Alwyn Kurts who played Tim's father. There is also a neat scene with Mary reading The Thorn Birds (Tim was based on a novel by Colleen McCullough) as well as all of the cups of tea and middies of beer at the pub, true blue. This was A bit of a gem actually. 11/4/15

I found it a moving story of love and innocence on the one hand and ignorance, prejudice and bigotry on the other. All the actors from Piper Laurie and Mel Gibson to the Australian actors who played the deeply loving parents and the bigot sister and husband were simply great. I have rarely seen Mel Gibson acting better after this movie. Compliments for the director. The most wonderful but also saddest thing about this movie was that Gibson grew from an almost tabula rasa mind to a person with more grasp of what the world is about. Thanks to the loving guidance of Laurie he learned to read and appreciate art and music. But it also lead him to understand more of the complexity and sometimes ugliness of people. I would love to see it again. Even though I have seen it twice . Of course looking at a young and beautiful Mel Gibson does not hurt.

Caught this film on cable, late night, a few years back. No idea what to expect, just wasn't ready to go to bed. By the time it ended, it was in my Top 10 of all time. Certainly the lowest budgeted film (accounting for inflation, anyway) on that list.

Gibson was terrific, capturing a handicapped young man perfectly. But, hey, the entire cast was great, especially Awyn Kurts as Tim's father. And, after appreciating Piper Laurie for years and years, that night I fell in love with her.

I've never seen such a "tight" little film. I doubt that there were more than 12 seconds of even semi-wasted frames. Michael Pate did an amazing job.

The film Tim is one of the most sensitive acting jobs I have seen Mel Gibson do. It is so unusual that a young actor can play a mentally slow young man so well. He gives us insight into the world of feelings of his character with his voice, body language, and facial expression in a way that makes each moment come alive. He is truly living his character. Piper,(Mary), also plays her role with all the care and sensitivity it needs. The story of the growing friendship between the two makes for more of a poem than a movie. A true love story, regardless of age and handycaps. And Tim's parents are well acted and believable. The harsh note of realism comes in the form of Tim's sister who only sees the oddness of it. However, magic prevails and a delicate love story is born. I wish it had been longer to further develop their lives. I also wish Mel Gibson would return more often to his ability to portray sensitive men with such truth.