Yawn. Poorly Filmed Snooze Fest.

Touches You

Excellent, Without a doubt!!

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

The Plumber is more than a movie about a plumber, although he (portrayed by Australian-Latvian actor Ivar Kants with much relish) is a central character along with the academic couple. The tension/psychological warfare is between the plumber and one-half of the academic couple, played by Judy Morris. Robert Coleby, the other half, seems quite oblivious to what's going on around him.The movie takes an honest look at the class tensions here, especially in the town and gown aspect. When you think about it, it's interesting to ponder the separation of classes, like would say a plumber marry an architect? Maybe. I would like to know where the university housing for the academic couple was filmed. It really shows the times.I'm not sure why the plumber targets the Judy Morris character, and maybe we'll never know. The ending was a bit too contrived and too simplistic. I think the plumber's legal aid lawyer would have a field day poking holes through the prosecution's case again him for theft. Perhaps there should be a sequel called Son of Plumber starring a distant relative of say Christopher Plummer as this would be a nice play on words I guess.

'The Plumber' is an excellent movie.There have been other films about outsiders encroaching on a household and attempting to take over - but none (as in 'The Plumber') where the other characters are so oblivious to what is actually happening: 'The Servant' 1963 - Dirk Bogarde - wherein a manservant takes over the house and 'Ring Once for Death' part of the 70's 'Thriller' Compendium - (created by Brian Clemens ) starring Nyree Dawn Porter - wherein her manservant tries to poison her and also take over . But 'The Plumber' eclipses both of these in its complexities and the various layers/elements to the film. There is the 'mystery' element: When Max enters the lift to go to Jill's apartment his hand hovers over several buttons in the lift before resting on the one which leads him to Jill's apartment and then calls her 'Jilly' without ever being introduced. There is also the mystery as to the plumber's intentions: "He's really very sweet" says friend Meg. "He's really very cunning " replies Jill. There is a disturbing sound of wind encircling the Uni. apartment block - whenever it is viewed - emitting an instantaneous sense of menace. No wonder that Peter Weir added the cheerful restaurant scene with the Italian music - as a foil to the 'evil' - towards the climax of the film. There is the fact that the other characters in the film - no matter how close to 'Jilly' as the plumber calls her - don't seem to have an idea as to what is going on and how the plumber's presence/actions have affected Jill. In fact, Max - the plumber - seems to work at getting her husband / friend 'on side' by chatting to them or fixing their cars - perhaps to ingratiate himself because of what he sees as 'class' differences - very obvious when Jill - now exasperated - picks him up on misusing grammar.There is the 'men vs women' aspect of the film - in addition to Max - the plumber's relationship with Jill - we have the man aggressively watching the women performing their yoga, and admonishing them that other people need to use the hall. Add to the plot the revolting story which Meg tells Jill about a woman entering someone's home to use the bathroom , and the lady finding that it is really a man in drag. There is the subject matter about which Jill is writing her thesis - her experiences with the 'Bitu' man with whom Jill had interactions in New Guineu - and the intermittent sighting of the Bitu man during the movie via the artifacts and pictures in the flat.A humorous sideline of the film - is the overseas visitors' dinner to sight her husband's nutritionist work - and how one of them - hilariously - gets trapped under the bathroom rubble. Brian (the husband) is doubtful about getting a post in Geneva - but after the dinner - is successful - which he irronically puts down to 'collapsing bathrooms and cognac.' I believe that Jill gets rid of the plumber in the same way that she dispensed with the Bitu man - by use of cunning, and I believe that the ending - in which Jill is looking down at the plumber whilst he screams "You bitch- you set me up" - New Guinea drums ablazing- is near to perfect. A wonderful little gem of a film which doesn't give you answers - but makes you think.

Jill Cowper (Judy Morris) has a plumber (Ivar Kants) come to her house one day. She didn't call for one but he said it's just a routine checkup. He discovers all these problems and comes back the next day to "fix" things and begins playing mind games with her and verbally terrorizing her.PLOT SPOILERS! Why some many people love this is beyond me. Director Peter Weir himself said he did it just for the money...and it shows. The story is slow, uninvolving and completely pointless. Also the main character acts like an idiot. More than once I was wondering why Jill let the plumber back in considering how strange he acts from the beginning. Then he breaks in through the ceiling and she doesn't call the police???? I started to hate this woman a lot. She was allowing herself to be terrorized! To make matters worse the ending was weak and we never do find out why the plumber was doing all this. It's a big buildup to nothing. This gets two stars because it was somewhat creepy (until you realize it's going nowhere), there was some eerie music and sound effects and the acting was good. But, all in all, it was slow, murky and pointless. If Peter Weir hadn't directed this it would have disappeared long ago. A 2 at best.

After seeing The Truman Show,i wanted to see the other films by weir.I would say this is a good one to start with. The Plot:The wife of a doctor (who is trying to impress his bosses,so he can get promoted).Is trying to finish her written course,while hes at work.But one day a strange man,who says that hes a Plumber,tells her hes been called out to repair some pipes in there flat.As time goes on it turns into a battle to see,how much she can take of this "Plumber". View On The Film:Peter "The Master And Commander:The Far Side Of The World" Weir, keeps the film going at a really good pace and makes sure to keep it moving fast.Unlike a film thats very "similar" to this,The Cable Guy,this film does not go as dark as that film,which helps to give it a more realistic feel.Though Weir gives it some good comedy,(like,when the Plumber does a spoof of Dylans,It Ain't Me Babe,by doing a song called-Its Me Babe!).The cast that has no one that well known in it,do a really good job to make you feel,that this is really happening. Final View On The Film:If you want to see a very enjoyably gripping film,then see this..