The Lion in Winter
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Movie Reviews of The Lion in Winter
Movie Review: Classic wit
Summary: 5 Stars
Two generations of rival royals from the twelfth century match wits and sovereign powers in provocative drama. Goldman's dialogue eschews anachronism, and the cast recreates the medievals in the most believable way possible.Movie Review: Awesome Acting
Summary: 5 Stars
This classic is one of the best movies ever made with an all star cast of actors and actresses that bring the characters to life, in the time span of just one day you have so many emotions and twists involving some of the greatest people in the history of Great Britain and France, this is truly history that is exciting and entertaining to watch.Movie Review: Hepburn & O'Toole are Regal Treachery
Summary: 5 Stars
King Henry II (Peter O'Toole), his wife Eleanor (Kate Hepburn) and their three sons Richard (the Lionhearted) (Anthony Hopkins in his film debut), John (Nigel Terry) and Geoffrey (John Castle) all get together for Christmas and treachery.
Henry and Eleanor have been battling for years - she's tried to overthrow him more than once. She is imprisoned in a castle and brought out for state occasions and holidays.
It's Christmastime and Henry is allowing Eleanor out for the festivities. Of course, also attending is his current paramour, Alais. But the problem really is her brother Philip, King of France is also attending and he wants Henry to marry his sister to one of his sons.
The son who marries Alais will be the next King of England. A marriage to Richard, Eleanor's favorite son, would make him too powerful. Therefore, he favors the weaker son, John. Therefore, all three sons are vying for her.
This creates a lot of backstabbing and treachery including from Philip. The only pawn seems to be Alais.
The writing is delightfully wicked. Hepburn and O'Toole just eat it up and both give their best performances. This is a master class in acting, screenwriting and directing. This film will keep you on the edge of you seat waiting for the next turn.
My favorite line is when Henry storms out of Eleanor's quarters saying he is going kill all their sons. Eleanor throws herself at Henry and just misses grabbing him and say "Well every family has their ups and downs."
Also, Hepburn won her third Academy Award in a historic tie with Barbra Streisand (Funny Girl) and James Goldman won for Screenplay. Anthony Harvey became the first director to win the Directors' Guild Award but not the Oscar.
DVD EXTRAS: Commentary by Anthony Harvey
Movie Review: Family Angevin of Plantagenet will never be the same
Summary: 5 Stars
Henry Plantagenet II has never been more humorously represented. A very bold movie. Definitely a triumph! Middle Ages' England at its most clear-cut, most certainly. Captures the perverseness of the Catholic Church in that time, and the ways in which monarchs could worm out of anything. Applause doesn't do it proper service!Movie Review: One of the 20 best films ever made -- period
Summary: 5 Stars
I saw this movie in a theater when it was first released. I have also seen it about four or five times since on TV. Trust me, the big screen is much better, but even on TV, this movie has such incredible depth that it will be around for many years to come. The somewhat recent TV production with Patrick Stewart and Geln Close as Henry and Eleanor was very good, but not in the same league as Peter O'Toole's Henry and Katherine Hepburn's Eleanor.
This film has perhaps some of the most crisp and witty dialog I've ever heard. I always thought Peter O'Toole should have got an Oscar for his work in this film, and also for his excellent work in Beckett.
Set in 1183 in England, the film portrays the venemous relationship between Henry and Eleanor and their three sons, John Geoffrey and Richard. Beneath the venom and hurt is something of a bond of love between Eleanor and Henry that unfolds throught the film. Also, not to be missed is a young Anthony Hopkins as Richard, who in history is the Richard The Lion Heart who goes to the crusades, and in his absence England is ruled by his brother John, aho in 1215 is forced to sign the Magna Charta.
There are so many excellent reviews of this film that I feel inadequate to improve on them. Let me just say that if you want to spend a couple hours watching two of the world's greatest actors work with a sparkling script and an outstanding set, then get this movie. I don't see how you will disappointed.