Lord Of The Reads.
111 Mins. Starring: Nicholas Hoult, Lily Collins, Anthony Boyle, Patrick Gibson, Tom Glynn-Carney, Craig Roberts, Pam Ferris, Colm Meaney & Derek Jacobi. Director: Dome Karukoski.
"Peter Stringfellow's 'Lord Of The Rings'". That's what a British comedian called 'Game Of Thrones' in a roast as hilarious as that Starbucks takeout coffee cup in the Stark dark. But George R.R. Martin can take his time tapping at his typewriter. As this writer is in no hurry to read his next book. But that's only because I'm staring at seven seals on a shelf as I write (not actual seals. That would be cruel. I'd throw them a beach ball or something) I need to read right now. All chicken and egg before I even get round to watching any of the series'. And we're on the eighth right? Yep...I'm that one guy who hasn't seen the HBO fire show. But believe me I want Winter to come. Still if you think these dragons are better than 'Hobbit' journeys over one ring to rule them all, then you my friend must be Tolkien the piss. That shall not pass. One doesn't simply just...well, you get the idea (shout-out to franchise walking spoiler Sean Bean. Heads will roll). With you since going on an adventure there and back again. From the leaflet in comparison 'Hobbit' child's Bible, to the epic 'Rings' trilogy like a castle door throne stop akin to George R.R. Martin's ever expanding works, J.R.R. Tolkien (it's all about the double 'R's' in your middle name having it. I should really drop the David) created and crafted a fantastic, fantasy fellowship decades before J.K. Rowling (O.K. it's all about the initials) waved her wizard wand towards as young boy named Harry. And in this beautiful biopic sharing storytelling strands with the one of another Great British revolutionary with words, the late, great, forever alive mind of Stephen Hawking, 'Tolkien' gives you the theory behind everything J.R.R. shot. Fighting and surviving the war and dealing with the haunting, harrowing, aftermath shell shocks of trench warfare. Tolkien turned trenches into shires. His band of brothers into hobbits and warrior elves. And the fear of incoming gunfire, raining desolation from Smaug soldiers spitting fire, flapping their wings above to mustard gas dragons breath. Damn Daenerys! Now that's hot like your latt...pardon me, herbal tea. And after going to battle with all these armies here is your return of the king.
Shire brilliance. And if you're talking about a boy, look no further than Nicholas Hoult as the man with the golden pen. He was 'Fury Road' mad in 'Max' (and this week he's going up against Furiosa in Charlize Theron's Presidential 'Long Shot'), a Beast in the 'X-Men' films franchise (about to go dark this month with 'Phoenix') and even an Oscar 'Favourite' in fancy frills this eccentric Academy January. But this is a movie about two towers. And we can't talk about the genesis and genius of 'Tolkien' without Lily Collins. Also making this month her own next to Zac Efron's Ted Bundy in Netflix's 'Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile'. And speaking of Netflix the 'Okja' and 'Mortal Instruments' star has made her name with acclaim in as much hard hitting to the extremes movies like 'To The Bone' as she has in mainstream rom coms like 'Love Rosie'. Like her first namesake, fellow Brit, Lily James (currently taking the West End, 'All About Eve' stage), Collins may be one of the best youngest, albeit most underrated working actresses today. The eagerly earnest and gentle spirit of Hoult is the perfect take for Tolkien. There's a sheer vulnerability of bravery to the 'A Single Man' haunting actor that you just can't measure. At times you can see the gentleman influence of his first screen partner in the British treasure of Hugh Grant. But most of time he just unleashes his own beast of a talent, even with the bitter blues of war forcing his sliding spirit into the mud and blood. Behind all that pain in the eyes of his soul is the visions of a writer who really can and did change the world like his schoolfriend running down the cobbled streets like there's no tomorrow dreamed of. This is a man that has finally found his lead. And the real muse between all those hobbits, elves and wizards almost as smart as him of John Ronald Reuel Tolkien. The poet and philologist and the man whose heart belongs to Edith Bratt. Who in turned also inspired his most famous, fictional heroes of his folklore like Cate Blanchett's glorious Goddess Galadriel. The man who invented his own language was lost for his natural rhythm of words when it came to Edith. As they speak in the language of love under elm and sycamore. Singing to the trees like a beautiful scene were they aren't allowed in to the Opera, but 'Pretty Woman' style take their revenge by making the most of it in a far more meaningful way backstage listening in and acting out all they don't see with masquerade props. And Lily Collins evokes that same beautiful soul in a role that just like Hoult will now be her own torchbearer for her already captivated career thanks to her own making. And if you want to see how this story will go, just follow that light.
Dragons. Fire. War. They can't scorch what this film really is about. Love and friendship. Even with legends like 'Matilda' and 'Harry Potter's' Pam Ferris, 'Star Trek' ('Next Generation' to 'Deep Space Nine') actor Colm Meaney (so good on the West End two years back as the Big Daddy of Tennessee Williams' 'Cat On A Hot Tin Roof') and the CBE of the 'Hamlet' stage presence of 'I, Claudius' actor and 'Gladiator' great Derek Jacobi on heartwarming and helping hand. But the heart and soul of this picture from the muddy warfare of Rugby, to clinking their cups at high tea is in the gentlemen riot club of the talented trio of Anthony Boyle, Patrick Gibson and Tom Glynn-Carney (it's Chris Nolan's 'Dunkirk' you recognise him from). This friendship fellowship like school days are your best days remind you of what this life is all about like this film. But it also brings all too painfully back and clear how fleeting it's impermanence is too. As does an always amazing Craig Roberts. The 'Submarine' star popping up on the battlefield. They all like a moving mothering curtain call remind us like a folded flag of what we've lost, behind fighting for that very thing we raise again like clenched fists of defiance. War since your grandfather and mother's age has lost many a marvellous mind, man and woman. Poets. Scientists. Father's. But those who are left like Tolkien wrote to their testament true. And there's no tribute in salute more greater or genuine than that. This is how you truly fight back. In a time were everyone is leaving 'Endgame' screenings carrying as many buckets of tears as Marvel are money in the most successful box office opening ever, in the 'Avenger' finale that even sank 'Titanic' and the deep blue of James Cameron's 'Avatar', the sincere tears you cry will subtley stream down your cheeks in single blinked back file. There is just a precious soul and graceful beauty to this utterly moving and subtley powerful picture from the mind of Finnish filmmaker Dome Karukoski of 'Forbidden Fruit' fame with the 'Heart Of A Lion'. One that will be a slow Sunday matinee favourite for idols of that type of movie. One that will only fine wine over the decades from people discovering 'Tolkien' on television (like the new shared series of those movies mythology by Amazon) like his pages in their parents bookshelves with that same iconic red dragon on the front guarding all that gold they're about to treasure discover as they dare crack the spine. And just like our generation from the ones before us we could be talking about your kids next too. You've read his work, now put your Hobbit feet up and watch his life. With all the epic fantasies Tolkien wonderfully wrote, who would have thought the most engrossing and compelling story would be his own one? His own legend. A young writers dream. Now that's an unexpected journey. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'The Lord Of The Rings', 'The Hobbit', 'The Theory Of Everything'.
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