The Lion in Winter
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Movie Reviews of The Lion in Winter
Movie Review: They don't make them like this anymore
Summary: 5 Stars
See my review of the 2004 remake as contrast.
This is, simply put, the greatest movie I have ever seen.
Peter O'Toole is exactly how I pictured Henry II: arrogant and volatile, yet somehow sympathetic; he can calmly discuss one minute and roar the next like the titular character he is. Hepburn as Eleanor is brilliant, a latter-day Helen whose beauty has long since started to fade, living to scheme against Henry and to manipulate her sons against him and against one another. The supporting cast, including the debut performances of Timothy Dalton and Anthony Hopkins, is similarly spectacular. Let's just say this is Richard the Lionhearted as you never imagined him.
But the acting skill of the cast is only half of the game; part of the genius of this film lies in its dialogue. There is almost no action and yet never a dull moment (this from someone who likes big explosions as much as the next theatergoer). The quips and jokes, jabs and insults, are delivered with impecable timing.
My favorite exchange:
Henry (roaring, and dripping with sarcasm): How was your crossing? Did the sea part for you?
Eleanor (calmly, and equally sarcastic): It went flat when I told it to. I didn't think to ask for more.
Wow.
Movie Review: Ye Olde Dysfunctional Family Xmas
Summary: 5 Stars
A brainy and brash Medieval talkfest that will likely disappoint Society For Creative Ananchronism types for its paucity of swordplay and severed limbs, but entertain any others who apply. Peter O'Toole plays England's Henry II like a true Christmas ham, and together with his acid-tongued Queen Eleanor (Katherine Hepburn), proceeds to (verbally) carve up the family for holiday dinner. The film is absolutely electric whenever O'Toole and Hepburn share a scene. They tear into each other like "Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf"'s George and Martha transplanted to a 12th-century English castle. Oh, and the "boys" are home for the holdiays, too, and "My Three Sons" they ain't! Led by Anthony Hopkins' militaristic Richard, the brothers plot, intrigue and swap inner-family alliances several times before the yams are even done. Look for a very young Timothy Dalton as Phillip of France, who has some nasty tricks up his Christmas stocking as well. Hepburn walked away with the 1968 Best Actress Oscar for her performance, and it's not hard to see why, with made-to-order one-liners like "Well now, what SHALL we hang first, the holly...or each other?" Anyone who relishes a well-turned phrase or a well-aimed barb will be entertained.Movie Review: All Families Have Their Ups and Downs
Summary: 5 Stars
Christmas 1183: King Henry II (Peter O'Toole) in the September of his years is doing a little estate planning by choosing a successor and dividing up the kingdom. He summons his three sons and his estranged wife, Eleanor(Katharine Hepburn), who has been imprisoned for plotting civil war against Henry, for a Christmas court. All the best laid plans of mice and men. Naturally, there are resentments among the boys as to who should succeed Henry and Eleanor gleefully stokes the fire of this powderkeg. To say sparks fly is an understatement. The raw emotion on display here is a virtual inferno and the only beneficiary is a delighted audience. Anthony Harvey colorfully transfers James Goldman's play to the screen. O'Toole, who in my mind deserved the Oscar for his work here, literally explodes on the screen as Henry. He is literally a lion personified. Hepburn, who did win the Oscar, gives a multi-hued performance here. Yes, she is devious and unrelenting, but there is an underlying sadness in her character. You can see on her face that she rues the sad state of affairs she finds herself in. The joy of this film is to watch these accomplished actors tackle great dialogue which is a rarity in films these days.Movie Review: Christmas time with Henry II and family
Summary: 5 Stars
I remember seeing this amazing film one day years ago and I recently rediscovered it. Henry II is the aging King of England whose oldest son and heir has died and so he must name a new heir. So he summons his family to Christmas court: His eldest son Richard is an able soldier, his politically astute middle son Geoffrey, and the spoiled youngest son John who Henry loves the best are the contenders for the throne. Also summoned are Henry's wife Eleanor who has been imprisoned in a tower, the young King of France Phillp and his sister Alais who is Henry's ward and mistress. All these characters have a different stake in the outcome of who becomes Henry's heir as they fight, plot and backstab to get their contender to the throne.
Some reviews have called his movie "wordy" and to be fair it is light on action but it is heavy on intrigue and almost every line in the script (especially those of Henry and Eleanor) is pure magic. The casting is superb with Peter O'Toole as Henry and Katharine Hepburn as Eleanor (She won an Oscar for this role). Look also for young Anthony Hopkins, Nigel Terry and Timothy Dalton. I highly recommend this intelligent and well casted costume drama to everyone.
Movie Review: Shall we hang the holly, or each other?
Summary: 5 Stars
What a treasure this movie is. Based on a (then unsuccessful) play by James Goldman, The Lion in Winter has some of the best dialogue ever written for the screen Regardless of the plot, or the historical accuracy of the piece, you just watch the film over and over, listening to the words like music.It is a rare instance of all the right things coming together at the right time - a great script and a great cast. This is definitely one of Katherine Hepburn's best roles even though she made it when she was quite past her prime. Next to Lawrence of Arabia, this is Peter O'Toole's best film. It is also Anthony Hopkins first film. It reads as a textbook as to how a movie should be made. They, quite simply, don't make `em like this anymore.
The plot concerns a (fictional) Christmas court held in 1183. Henry II takes his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, out of prison to help him great the young French king Phillip. Their three sons - John, Geoffrey, and Richard Coeur de Lion - are there as well. What ensues is an exercise in political machinations by the most dysfunctional family you have ever seen in your life. It has inspired me to learn more about the personages actually involved.