Cromwell
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Movie Reviews of Cromwell
Movie Review: Cromwell; Well worth investing two hours of your life.
Summary: 5 Stars
"Cromwell" is a truly outstanding film. Of course, there are historical inaccuracies (particularly in the portrayal of the Long Parliament and the Battle of Edgehill). But these are trivial points when set against the huge success of this film in encapsulating the enormity of the subject. The personal, military and political dimensions are vast but Ken Hughes captures them as succinctly as is humanly possible.
From a near perfect screen presentation by Alec Guniness to Richard Harris at his pugilistic best, the characterisations are superbly drawn.
The struggle of the common man against a faltering autocracy is a theme conveyed convincingly without becoming a modernist rant.
From an historical perspective this film is a must. Oliver Cromwell has a good claim to be the grandfather of the United States and through it, modern democracy. After Charles II was restored in the military coup of 1660, many of Cromwell's supporters (and at least two tyrannicides - as John Milton called them) sought freedom in their United States. Their grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the revolutionaries who founded the USA; Cromwell had shown it was possible. Cromwell's Statute of Government 1653 (revised 1657) was the cornerstone of most democratic thinking in the 18th century and was the ultimate basis for the US Constitution. Cromwell's Equitable Maxims of 1650 still form the basis of both English and American laws. (Cromwell also introduced the English speaking world to chocolate and opera!).
Unfortunately many myths surround Cromwell; he is reviled by the Roman Catholic church and monarchists. 350 years have seen the creation of many historical inaccuracies - no civilians were killed at Drogheda. Cromwell did not cancel Christmas. Cromwell did not issue coins with the inscription "Olivarus Imperator"; these coins were issued by Charles II and backdated (a rather clever piece of propaganda).
Anyway this movie is a fascinating and a sufficiently accurate introduction to one of the most important events in Anglo-Irish-American history. Enjoy.
Movie Review: 'I do not fear death'
Summary: 5 Stars
When I was required to see Cromwell for a European history class, I never imagined that it would become one of my favorite films, not about history, but about common human problems in any era, heroes and villains. I hear it's wildly innacurate. That's probably true, and our teacher pointed out plenty of innaccuracies in the segments we watched in class, but there are also many important things the film gets right: for instance, that the crowd at Charles' execution groaned instead of cheering. What makes Cromwell so great in spite of any inaccuracies, though, is its portrayal of its principal characters. Other reviews accuse Cromwell of overacting, but that's the sort of man he was really was (apparently his quote which begins with 'Why in the bowels of Christ...!' is an actual quote). Cromwell is sympathetic as a man who felt that he was compelled by neccesity, to do things which at first he found unthinkable. Charles I is equally or even more sympathetic as a human being crucified for abstract values, but who manages to meet his end with an astonishing amount of dignity. The scene of his execution almost brought tears to my eyes.
There's something about the old-fashioned cinematography in Cromwell, also, which it makes it more convincing than more recent, slicker historical epics like Elizabeth. It conveys a sense of real life and real history. Cromwell and Charles are given emphasis on the screen more by their behavior than by any trick of the camera.
The one major flaw in the film is its inexplicable ending - in which, against the background of a gothic chorus, a narrator explains what a great human being Cromwell was. The film has shown a different, more complex reality. Still, the intelligent viewer will realize that, and such a small detail isn't enough to keep this very good movie from a five-star rating.
Movie Review: "Christ is king; not man", Oliver Cromwell.
Summary: 5 Stars
Filmed on location in England, with lavish costumes, an army of extras, and an all-star cast.
A true and interesting story.
The Magna-Carta of 1215 required the king to act by rule-of-law, rather than arbitrarily, and required Parliament's approval to raise taxes.
In the 1600's; the king of England and some of his noblemen impoverish and oppress the poor; close Parliament; and act corruptly toward other noblemen; causing a civil-war in England.
Oliver Cromwell eventually leads the rebellion. Cromwell is a Christian, Puritan; living simply and zealously for God, somewhat like the Amish, but without the Amish isolation from society. Cromwell is a middle-class nobleman, land-owner.
A couple of noblemen pretend to be on the side of Cromwell; so they can undermine him in battle. We see this coming, but not Cromwell.
Cromwell was slow to join the rebellion, and went to great-lengths reasoning with the king. At the very start; Cromwell wanted to go to America, but then realized he should stay and fight the corruption instead. It is no fun for the righteous to fight tyranny; only the wicked enjoy fighting and political-intrigue.
Available for $3 on Amazon-Instant-video / Video-on-demand.
Movie Review: Our Chief of Men
Summary: 5 Stars
A magnificent summary of the fundamental issues, and their resolution, which made the British nation what it once used to be, and was for 300 years, right up until 1945. There is obviously not the slightest hope of compressing the complicated historical events from 1640 to 1660 into 2 hours, and simplification is so inevitable as to be not worth even discussing. But the basics are presented with excellent clarity, and produced with a marvellous balance between entertaining drama and solid essentials. Guinness and Harris are both on tremendous form: the defining characteristics of Charles were vacillation and weakness, and those of Cromwell force and resolution. Both were pious in their own ways. Charles, however, thought he could do what he liked in his position because God had put him there. Cromwell didn't share this belief, and that is what makes him a great man, and a great architect of the British political values which lasted for so long. The ruthless crushing of the threat in Ireland has to be addressed, of course, and perhaps I'll add something on that at a later date. Such was the man's personality, however, that even an author from a British Roman Catholic background felt obliged to title her biography: "Cromwell, Our Chief of Men".Movie Review: Wonderful time period & topic, great actors, so-so history lesson
Summary: 5 Stars
I first saw this movie when I was around 12. As with most kids that age, I knew nothing of the historical details. However, this movie so entertained and interested me that I went on to study the English Civil War in far more depth. The more that I learned, the less impressed I was by this film, and its woefully inaccurate abbreviation of history. Now, with degrees and graduate degrees to my name, and having spent time in England in the company of English Civil War re-enactors (one of whom wore and ORIGINAL 400 year old lobster-tail cavalry helmet!), I must credit this movie for helping to spark my subsequent historical interest. That alone is worth a five star rating. To have given justice to the subject of the English Civil War, this would have had to be a mini-series, and not a single 140 minute movie -- but such things were unknown in 1970.
Enjoy the movie for what it is, seek out some good histories to flesh out the details, and let's hope that we live long enough to see some talented and ambitious filmmaker do it right!