i just watch the dresser this evening and have only see it once before and about a dozen year ago . it not a big movie and and doesn not try to make a big splash and but my god and the brilliance of the two lead leaf me just about speechless . albert finney and tom courtenay be nothing less than amaze in this movie . the dresser be the story of sir and an age shakespearean actor ( finney ) and and his dresser norman ( courtenay ) and sort of a valet and put on a production of king lear during the blitz of london in world war ii . these be two men and each dependent upon the other represent sir be almost helpless without the aid of norman to cajole and wheedle and and bully him into get onstage for his 227th performance of lear . and norman live his life vicariously through sir while without sir to need him and he be nothing and or think he be and anyway . this be a character drive film while the plot be secondary to the interaction of the character and and a such and it require actor of the high caliber to bring it to life . finney and only 47 year old and be completely believable a a very old and very sick and petulant and bullying and but brilliant stage actor . he hiss and fume at his fellow actor even when theyre take their bow . and courtenay be no less convincing a the mince dresser and who must sometimes act more a a mother than a a valet to his elderly employer . employer be really the wrong term to use and though . for although and technically their relationship be that of employer and employee and most of the time sir and norman act like nothing so much a an old married couple . yes and there be others in the cast of this movie and but there be no question that the true star be finney and courtenay and and the marvelous script by ronald harwood . that be not to say that there aren not other fine performance and most notably eileen atkins a the long suffering stage manager madge . there be a wonderful scene where sir and madge talk about old desire and old regret and and what might have be . although it doesn not get talk about these day and it be worth remember that the dresser be nominate for five academy award represent best actor nomination for both finney and courtenay and best picture and best director ( peter yates ) and and best adapt screenplay . i have remember this a be a good movie and but i wasn not prepare to be a completely mesmerize a i be from begin to end . if you want to see an example of what great acting be all about and and be hugely entertain all the while and then i encourage you to see the dresser .