The story of Tristram Shandy from novelist Laurence Stern was a vast, long story in nine volumes that revealed the eccentric humor of Britain. The story of Tristram Shandy was so popular that the idea of film versions of it seemed impossible giving the fact that Shandy's opinions, jokes, and sexual practices were so vast that the idea of making a film about Tristram Shandy is unfilmable. In 2006, Michael Winterbottom decided to attempt a film version of Tristram Shandy but unlike traditional film adaptations, Winterbottom went into another genre into the world of mockumentary in the story about actors and a film crew trying to make a movie about a book that is unfilmable entitled, Tristram Shandy: A Cock & Bull Story.

A Cock & Bull Story is about a film crew and actors trying to do the impossible in filming an adaptation of Tristram Shandy. Directed by Winterbottom and a script written by longtime collaborator Frank Cottrell Boyce (as Martin Hardy), the movie is a mockumentary where reality and fiction blurs. Playing the role of Tristram Shandy, along with Walter Shandy and himself is Steve Coogan of 24 Hour Party People fame. Also starring Rob Brydon, Jeremy Northam, Ian Hart, Gillian Anderson, Kelly MacDonald, Naomie Harris, David Walliams, Dylan Moran, Keeley Hawes, James Fleet, Mark Williams, Stephen Fry, Kieran O'Brien, and Winterbottom regular Shirley Henderson. Tristram Shandy: A Cock & Bull Story is one of the funniest, satirical comedies of 2006 from Michael Winterbottom.

In telling his own life story, Tristram Shandy discusses how his Uncle Toby (Rob Brydon) was wounded in battle while recalling the story of how he and Uncle Toby received similar injuries, in the same area when Tristram was a child (Joe Williams as the 9-year old Tristram). Tristram then talks about his birth and conception where his father Walter and mother Elizabeth (Keeley Hawes) had a system into conceiving the child but one night, Walter forgot to wind the clock and alas, Tristram was conceived yet cursed. On the day Elizabeth was to give birth, she sends her maid Susannah (Shirley Henderson) to fetch the mid-wife while Walter tries to get Dr. Slop (Dylan Moran). While Susannah and the mid-wife tries to help Elizabeth, Walter, Toby, Trim (Raymond Waring), and the doctor discuss the newly-invented forceps to get the baby out which is flawed. Though the forceps was used, the baby Tristram did end up with a broken nose. Tristram then discusses about everything that goes on during the birth as the birth is being filmed by a film crew led by its director Mark (Jeremy Northam).

The birth scene didn't work out well as the actors Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon take a break where a spat over shoe size and height comes around to the costume designer. The film’s assistant director Ingoldsby (Mark Williams) discusses over the accuracy of the costumes as Steve is often accompanied by his production assistant Jennie (Naomie Harris) while is trying to put his attention towards his girlfriend Jenny (Kelly MacDonald) and their baby son Steven. While Steve and Mark plus screenwriter Joe (Ian Hart) try to work on the ideas of the film where they realize that because there are so many stories, they won’t cover everything including one with Widow Wadman. When Steve is interviewed by Tony Wilson (played by Tony Wilson), Wilson is upset to learn that the love story of Widow Wadman and Uncle Toby won't be in the film.
After going through a scene where Steve is going to be inside a womb, the filming day ends as Steve is cornered by a journalist named Gary (Kieran O'Brien) about a piece while trying to bring attention to Jenny.

Still, Steve admits to finding himself to being attracted to the film-buff Jennie in whom they had a drunken affair of sorts the night before. Jennie admits that parts of the Tristram Shandy story will not make it into the film as Ingoldsby talks about battle scenes where he says that the battle scenes in Cold Mountain were absolutely awful. When Steve is called to see the rushes of the battle scenes, things weren't looking great as Steve, Joe, the producer Simon (James Fleet), and Mark are trying to figure out what to do as they decided to probably put the Widow Wadman story as Steve thought of Gillian Anderson to be in the film. All of a sudden, Gillian Anderson decides to be part of the film which will help the funding of the movie though Rob Brydon finds himself nervous since he has a crush on Anderson.

Still, Steve and the gang are nervous about the film and how it's going to turn out now that Anderson will be on board. Steve also learns that though he's the star, Rob is going to get a bigger part now and Steve might end up on the cutting room floor while trying to contend the attractions of Jennie. While everyone is trying to finish the film, there's still problems on how to attract the audience and how to end things in this impossible story on the life of Tristram Shandy.

It's true that adaptations and even biographies are hard to make into films, especially since they feature stories and subplots that readers seem to love. What Michael Winterbottom and his longtime screenwriter Frank Cottrell Bryce tried to do was make two different films. The first act being about Tristram Shandy and then the second act about making the film and the third is about the business of trying to make Tristram Shandy. While Bryce's structure is interesting along with its knack for British humor, the structure and humor isn't for everyone though Winterbottom brings a lot of satire to the film's second and third act. While the first act is an interesting yet funny film about a man's life, during the second and third act, it reveals that the life of this man is filled with so many stories. Especially in a 94-minute film is impossible to tell where it's hard to make the story of a man like Tristram Shandy where the film becomes a satire of where everything in the world of filmmaking goes wrong due to the egos of actors, the accuracy of costumes, and everything in between. The result is a funny, witty satire from Winterbottom and Bryce.

Cinematographer Marcel Zyskind does wonderful work with varied styles of photography to the arty, artificial style of Tristram sequences and scenes to the more documentary, hand-held approach towards the rest of the film. Production designer John-Paul Kelly and art director Emma MacDevitt do wonderful work in creating the period style of the 18th Century for the Tristram sequences while costume designer Charlotte Walter also does fine work in the look of the costumes where it's purposely is made to look foolish. Editor Peter Christelis does excellent work in playing with the film's structure while giving it a leisurely-pacing feel. Sound recordist Stuart Wilson does some excellent work in creating the sound to convey the atmosphere of the times and the documentary-style of the making-of stuff. The film's music is filled with an array of classical pieces from Antonio Vivaldi, Nino Rota, and Johann Sebastian Bach along with additional pieces from Michael Nyman and Edward Nogria.

The film's cast is wonderfully assembled with several actors playing themselves or caricatures of the film crew and producers. Featuring small yet notable and funny performances from Mark Williams as a historically-accurate assistant director, Keeley Hawes as Elizabeth Shandy/herself, Shirley Henderson as Susannah/herself, David Walliams as the hilarious parson, Stephen Fry as an eccentric historian, Paul Kynman as Shandy's assistant Obidiah, Dylan Moran as the dim Dr. Slop, Raymond Waring as cousin Trim, and Kieran O'Brien as the journalist Gary. Ian Hart is pretty funny as the screenwriter Joe who tries to re-write everything while Mark Hadfield is also good as another journalist named Leo. James Fleet and Jeremy Northam are excellent in their respectful roles as the producer and director Mark where Northam is really making fun of Michael Winterbottom. Tony Wilson and Gillian Anderson are excellent in their cameos as themselves with Anderson doing a great job as Widow Wadman. Joe Williams and Conal Murphy are really good as the child Tristram with their arrogant personality in believing that they're better actors than Steve Coogan.

Kelly MacDonald is wonderfully sweet as Coogan's girlfriend Jenny while Naomie Harris is witty as Coogan's assistant Jennie. The film's best supporting performance goes to Rob Brydon as Uncle Toby and himself. Brydon is the best comedic foil to Coogan as a supporting actor who suddenly is getting more attention to Coogan while dealing with the upcoming appearance of Gillian Anderson. Brydon steals every scene he's in as he also does some hilarious impressions of American actors. Finally, there's Steve Coogan in one of his funny roles as Tristram, his father, and himself. Coogan is truly a comedic genius with his straight-manner in how he narrates and tells the story while allowing himself to be humiliated in strange situations. This is truly Coogan's film as he brings the same kind of energy and wit that he did in 24 Hour Party People.

Tristram Shandy: A Cock & Bull Story is a fascinating, witty film from Michael Winterbottom and company. Though some might not get the film's British humor, fans of British comedy and the satire of filmmaking will indeed enjoy this. Thanks in large parts to the comedic talents of Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon along with their supporting cast, it's a film that no doubt has the Winterbottom wit. Sadly, this film also marked the end of Winterbottom's collaboration with screenwriter Frank Cottrell Bryce where the two fell out during the making in which Bryce chose the Martin Hardy pseudonym. Still, Tristram Shandy: A Cock & Bull Story reminds them of their talent and great collaboration as writer and director.

Michael Winterbottom Reviews:

I Want You (1998):

http://www.epinions.com/content_392856309380

Wonderland (1999):

http://www.epinions.com/content_367797636740

24 Hour Party People (2002):

http://www.epinions.com/content_74688597636

In This World (2002):

http://www.epinions.com/content_145666576004

Code 46 (2003):

http://www.epinions.com/content_394013675140

9 Songs (2004):

http://www.epinions.com/content_290447658628

The Road to Guantanamo (2006):

http://www.epinions.com/content_397638405764

A Mighty Heart (2007):

http://www.epinions.com/content_381302509188



Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for Groups
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age