Shadowlands
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Movie Reviews of Shadowlands
Movie Review: Tender triumph!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie is one of those rare films that manages to capture some of lives deeper truths without getting heavy handed. This love story is entertaining mostly due to the fine script and outstanding performances by Anthony Hopkins, Debra Winger (Terms of Endearment, An Officer and a Gentleman) , and Joseph Mazzello (Jurassic Park, Simon Birch). Hopkins plays the mature C.S. Lewis (The Narnia Chronicles, The Four Loves). Even though Oxford professor Lewis has converted to Christianity, he has built a world where no one can touch him emotionally. His relationships with everyone, even his brother and closest friends, are nothing more than intellectual acquaintances.Enter Joy Gresham and her young son Douglas. Douglas is an avid Lewis fan from reading the Narnai books. Both mother and child enter Lewis' world, oblivious to the walls Lewis has erected to protect his own emotions. The resulting drama is one of the finest movies available. This is English cinema at its best. Particularly noteworthy is George Fenton's moving score. His original compositions for the film are worth a listen on their own, and one of my favorite soundtracks ever. In the tradition of Vaughn-Williams, Butterworth, and Parry - his music stands with other British 20th century romantics.
This beautiful film was directed by Sir Richard Attenborough (Gandhi, Jurassic Park), and shows us Hopkin's genius as an actor, making much more use of his talent than we've seen in recent years. This is a tear jerker, but still highly recommend.
Movie Review: "I don't want to be lost."
Summary: 5 Stars
'Shadowlands' is a film you must be willing to sit through to appreciate, for the first twenty minutes are dreadfully boring. That said, once you get past the exterior and get to the meat of this tragic love story you'll be emotionally drawn into each frame. The true life story of C.S. Lewis (Hopkins) is a beautiful story of love, trust and the ability to allow suffering to appreciate that love and trust. Jack (as C.S. Lewis is reffered) has built a life of comfort for himself, a life around those who can't hurt him. He enjoys the fact that he hasn't felt the cold hand of suffering in his lifetime, but after meeting the beautiful and bold Joy Gresham (Debra Winger) all that is about to change. Joy is a divorced poet who brings her young son to see Jack (beings that he has written the succesfull Narnia franchise) and she immediatly becomes smitten with Jack, as he does her. Their relationship, strickly platonic, changes as Joy is diagnosed with cancer and given a short time to live. The remainder of the film is so heartbreaking for it shows Jack realizing how much he loves this woman, and his faith is tested as he wonders why God would allow this to happen. As Jack soon realizes, it's the suffering now that allowed us the love then...it's a package deal (that's not exactly the way he says it, but it's the general jist). Anyways, it's a truly wonderful film with brilliant acting on all parts, Winger and Hopkins taking the bulk of the praise. Just remember, stick it out and you'll appreciate why!Movie Review: A very moving, powerful and poignant look at love
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one of the best films I have seen. It is the story of CS Lewis, a literary genius, and his improbable encounter with a love that changes his life. One caution is that this film cannot be watched with dry eyes, it is that powerful and moving.
The film catches an established CS Lewis, who at this point has already written several books and is well known. He is visited by a woman and her son who come over from America. One of my favorite scenes is of the young boy searching through Lewis's house and finding a big wardrobe; the look of disappointment when he reaches through the coats and hits the solid back is priceless. An obvious nod to the magical wardrobe in the CS Lewis classic "The lion, the witch and the wardrobe".
The scenes of the outspoken young American being introduced to the stuffy Oxford colleagues of Lewis depict just what an improbable match this is. Nonetheless, Lewis falls in love. The rest of the story needs to be experienced.
There are no weak moments on this film. The acting is first rate throughout and Hopkins is at his best. The love between them is both believable and truthful, as is the way the relationship brings out feelings Lewis had long shut down.
A classic, a true love story. If you are at all a fan of CS Lewis, or just of great films, then this is a must see. Powerful, moving and a very poignant examination of love. Highly recommended.
Movie Review: Well acted historical FICTION
Summary: 5 Stars
If one were to pick apart the film for its historical inaccuracies, one would have a field day. The film, however, is not a documentary. It is fiction using the names of real, historical people. Once you get beyond that, it is much easier to enjoy it.
The most moving theme of the story is how Lewis deals with the problem of pain as he experiences it. When he holds it at arms' length and examines it with scholarly detachment, pain is easy to understand. It is a necessary means God uses to sculpt and shape his creatures. When actually felt, it is mysterious, confusing, and apparently unnecessary. Why do the good suffer and lesser people flourish? Why does the wonderful joy of love have to be tempered with the excruciating pain of loss? While Lewis was able to speak authoritatively about the purpose of pain in his lectures, he was unable to give an answer to his wife's grieving son. All he could do was to cry along with the child.
Perhaps one could learn from the story of Job that it's best not to try to give the grieving an explanation for their pain. Like Job, the fictional Lewis could know that God had a reason but that he could not understand it.
I recommend the film as a reminder for viewers that oftentimes pain doesn't make sense. Instead of expostulating on God's reason for allowing others to suffer, it is better to sit and weep with them.
Movie Review: Whistler
Summary: 5 Stars
Just when you think you've seen the best of them, you find a movie like Shadowlands. Anthony Hopkins again shows that his capabilities go beyond that of Hannibal Lectar. In this, he plays "Jack" C.S. Lewis, the author of the Chronicles of Narnia, with deep passion and realism. Not many people know what an interesting life C.S. Lewis led, such as being a best friend and spiritual councelor to J.R.R. Tolkien (Lord of the Rings).This movie centers on the love of Lewis and the easily controlled world in which he has surrounded himself. When Joyce (Debra Winger) writes him a letter, she catches his attention and he agrees to meet with her.
Joyce brings with her a young son (Joseph Mazello) that is having to deal with seperation from his abusive, alchoholic father. There is a scene near the end with Hopkins and Mazello that is priceless.
Before Lewis meet's Joyce he is a man of solitude and withdrawn emotions, and is surrounded by pieces of his childhood. On his wall next to his desk hangs a painting of what he refers to as heaven. This idea of happiness is kept in the form of the painting, until he searches for it.
Shadowland's is a great movie that apparently hasn't been discovered by a large number of people. How unfortunate! This has the qualities of a classic thanks to Richard Attenborough's terrific direction, a great story, and perfect casting. ~s.a.o.s.~