Cromwell
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Movie Reviews of Cromwell
Movie Review: A Very Stylized Rendition Of The English Civil War
Summary: 3 Stars
1970 film on the life of Oliver Cromwell, the leader of the revolt against the monarchy of Charles I in 17th Century England. Although the direction and musical score have some problems, the film has great cinematography and is complemented with the talents of Sir Alec Guiness and Sir Richard Harris in the leading roles.
Charles I was King of England in early to mid-17th century England. A king married to a devoutly Catholic and foreign queen, Charles I soon found himself in the political aftermath of the reformation and Henry VIII's creation of the Church of England. In addition to the religious-political paradox he found himself in, Charles I sought to retain his power by abolishing Parliament leading him to civil war. Oliver Cromwell was a devout Puritan who soon became the leader of the Roundheads against the Royalists. After taking command of the army and disposing of Charles I, Cromwell appointed himself as a dictator and ruled over parliament for several years during the period called the 'Interregnum' .
The best performance in the film is that of Alec Guiness as Charles I. He takes all of the royal airs of the monarch down to his light speech impediment. Although some have complained about Richard Harris' performance, I thought his theatrics and shouting accentuated the fact that Cromwell was a religious fanatic and politically inflexible: this disposition is adequately demonstrated by historical fact. Not only was Cromwell unwilling to compromise with the disposition of Charles I, he was intolerant and unmoving with the rest of England and was considered too rigid even by the Puritans themselves.
The worst part of the film is the soundtrack. The liturgical choir in the background presents Cromwell as some divine liberator which he wasn't. As history shows, Cromwell became just as arbitrary and inflexible in his politics as Charles I. Yes, Cromwell had very deep convictions about religion and governance but then, don't all religious zealots?
Again, this film has a great cast with beautiful costumes and reenactments. It's uneven in how it seeks to present the characters and theme: although it seems to show Charles I in a good light, it improperly places Cromwell on some biblical podium with the overdone choir music shouting "Rejoice in the Lord." England was hardly rejoicing in Cromwell after his self-appointment as dictator.
Movie Review: More Yelling!
Summary: 3 Stars
Great production values and a terrific performance by Sir Alec Guinness cannot entirely overcome the turgid pacing of this lavish historical epic. The biggest fault with "Cromwell" is well...Cromwell. Richard Harris, an actor who was either very, very good or very, very bad, seemed convinced that he was on the London stage rather than a film set. His postures and attitudes all seem very staged as if for a theatrical performance. Then there is the yelling. I swear 80% of Harris' dialogue is yelled and at one point in the movie his voice is hoarse from constant yelling. (It's like that SNL skit about Chris Matthews- "More yelling!) Overall, it's just too over-the-top and hurts the film.Movies about historical subjects ALWAYS have to take liberties with their subjects. It's just the way it is. Thus, I tend to judge movies on history by a scale- some rate higher than others in capturing an era and the facts. I would rate "Cromwell" in the low mid range on that scale. It certainly captures the look of the era. The battle scenes are very impressive with literally thousands of extras courtesy of Hollywood's then favorite rent-an-army- dictator Franco's Spanish army. However, it puts Oliver Cromwell in the midst of every important decision of the English Civil War which is way off the mark. I guess the scriptwriters wanted to ensure that in almost every scene Richard Harris would be there scowling and yelling at the camera and forget about historical accuracy.
Movie Review: Entertaining historic epic
Summary: 3 Stars
I found Cromwell to be an entertaining historic epic movie. I know the period pretty well and although the movie is hardly historically accurate, I thought it was entertaining. Alec Guiness totally steal the movie. He managed to generate a lot of sympathy for being a bad King while Cromwell played by Richard Harris gets too hammy and his character comes out looking like a blood thirsty tyrant. Bit ironic. I hope no one is looking for any history lessons here. Sir Thomas Fairfax founded the New Model Army, not Cromwell who only commanded the cavalry during the initial stages of that army's creation. Historical inaccuracy are too many to write down here. The battle scenes were great (although bit short) but both Guiness and Harris were well supported by an excellent cast.The DVD looks pretty good overall. It was nice to see this movie in (anamorphic) widescreen once again - I haven't seen it that mode since I last saw it in the theaters back in 1971!! The audio is good (Dolby surround), clarity in the presentation but there was no extra features outside of few trailers. This is a totally strip-down DVD, just the movie!
Movie Review: Historical Drama with Considerable Liberties Taken
Summary: 3 Stars
This DVD edition of the Richard Harris film looks good and might rouse a few British history students who are naturally inclined, but too much license is taken with fact. Richard Harris plays Cromwell as a sullen Puritan and Timothy Dalton* an effete ineffect-ual. Dorothy Tutin** and Alec Guiness, however, walk away with the movie in their performances as the English monarchs upon whom Civil War is thrust.
For pageantry and period war scenes, this film is recommended. Otherwise, pick up a book to learn more about Cromwell and the foundations of modern day Parliament!
Particularly pricey, too, considering it is sans special features which could have been so easily and bountifully provided!
*Much better in LION IN WINTER
**Even more delightful in the BBC miniseries THE SIX WIVES OF HENRY VIII (she plays Anne Boleyn to perfection!)
Movie Review: Second Tier Epic
Summary: 3 Stars
There may be a cast of thousands, they just don't do much. In the battle scenes people collapse and fall motionless. Meanwhile, in Parliment no one speaks or even stirs when Cromwell is talking. The political scenes play a little better.
Harris spits out or bellows each line before inevitably tapering off into a hoarse whisper. (In some scenes his voice is so shot he can barely speak and he sounds just like Bette Davis.) There's no vanity in Guinness' self-pittying Charles -- you may cringe.
Is Cromwell a hero or a power mad despot? Not much insight here as the film ends before his genocidal adventures and tacks on a testimonal to his greatness.