To Kill a King
by Mike Barker
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DVD details
Actor: Corin Redgrave, Jessica Hazel, John-Paul Macleod, Melissa Knatchbull, Tim RothDirector: Mike Barker
Brand: STARZ HOME ENTERTAINMENT
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 102 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2008-02-26
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Anchor Bay
DVD Reviews of To Kill a King
DVD Review: Quite Good Although Historically Somewhat Simplistic
Summary: 4 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
I was expecting this not to be a very good movie given the fact that I had never heard of it and that a quick search to find out why revealed extensive financial problems with the movie's completion. It is, however, quite a good historical drama with an emphasis, as other reviewers have noted, on the political side rather than the military. This tends to work to the film's advantage as it gives the filmmakers plenty of time to let us get into the lives and the heads of Oliver Cromwell, who was the head of the New Model Army and the parliamentary party that was in opposition to the oppressive rule of King Charles I of England, and more particularly to Lord Thomas Fairfax, who was the general of the New Model Army and, according to this film, a very close friend of Oliver Cromwell. The film compresses the time periods known as the First Civil War and the Second Civil War, focusing instead on the political battle between Parliament and the King and, ultimately, between Cromwell and Fairfax, a battle that Fairfax lost when Cromwell persuaded Parliament to execute the King without trial.
The direction and performances are good almost across-the-board, but what takes the movie down to four stars for me is the depiction of Oliver Cromwell. Tim Roth does everything but twirl his mustache, playing Cromwell as a sort of Stuart-era Snidely Whiplash. Since Roth is a superb actor, I have to assume that this is how Cromwell was written, or perhaps how Roth was directed. The movie is supposed to be about the friendship between Cromwell and Fairfax but we never really see this, at least not until the very end of the film. You would never know from this movie that Cromwell himself was an excellent military commander or that what appeared to motivate him more than a sense of justice for all English men or a sense of outrage over the abuses of King Charles was his Puritan religion. It's very difficult to get a sense of why men followed him and why, in particular Lord Fairfax loved him as much as we are told he did. Cromwell as presented here never smiles, is tyrannical, and from the get-go appears worse than anything we've heard about the King. There is very little evidence of the meaningful relationship between Fairfax and Cromwell that the filmmakers say they intended. I kept wondering what it is that kept the two men bonded once the war was over. It's not an easy thing to figure out, but it is to the credit of these two fine actors that they eventually make you believe it, at least a little.
Rupert Everett, who had so much evident fun playing Charles II in Stage Beauty, gets the opportunity to shine a little more subtly as Charles I's crown and life were taken from him. He is every inch a king who believes he owes his crown to God's grace and to divine right. There is no common ground between his view and that of Cromwell so King Charles has to die.
We all know the excesses Cromwell comitted as Lord protector of England so I would very much have liked to see more of the man, the one ordinary Englanders would follow into battle and risk abandoning their king for. You can talk all you want in the movie about how much Cromwell's men love him, but we never really see it. We just see a monster who at the end, makes a few good speeches.
Production values are good, costumes are excellent and tech credits definately fine overall. Bonus features are nearly non-existent. A trailer and a "behind-the-scenes" type ad that is short and just a little informative for those who haven't seen the movie. The rest of the bonuses are a trailer for To Kill a King and three other movies (like Beowulf). Nothing to get excited about. A pretty good effort on the movie, but you'll probably have more questions than you started with. Although if it inspires you to seek out the answers, I guess it's done its job. Well worth a couple hours of your time.
Description of To Kill a King
1645: After years of civil war King Charles I is overthrown and two heroes have emerged Lord General Thomas Fairfax and his best friend and deputy General Oliver Cromwell. Their friendship is threatened when Fairfax and his wife conspire to return the King to power and Cromwell instead orders his execution seizing control. His armies spread violence and fear throughout the country and Fairfax realizes Cromwell must be stopped and their bond as two comrades-at-arms irreparably broken. System Requirements:Length: 102 minsFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA/BRITISH EMPIRE Rating: NR UPC: 013137217395 Manufacturer No: DV72173Bestsellers in DVD
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