Rating: 
Summary: Wonderfully intelligent film
Review: "The Winslow Boy" is a terrific old fashioned drama that is smartly done by director David Mamet. The story was a compelling account of honor and the fight for what is right no matter what the cost. Ronnie Winslow (Guy Edwards) is expelled from the Naval College for allegedly stealing and cashing a postal order of five shillings. He is resolute in his denial of the deed and his father Arthur Winslow (Nigel Hawthorne) risks everything the family owns to take up the legal battle to clear his son's name. It was generally an engaging story, although it bogged down in places when it became overly introspective. Too much time was spent on scenes devoted solely to the cost/benefit of the fight. Is it worth it? Yes. But is it really worth it? Yes. There were at least four such scenes when one would have sufficed. This is a minor flaw in an otherwise good script. This story was about a legal fight but oddly had no scenes in court. It would have benefited by a stirring closing argument by Sir Robert. However, the suspense of how the family received the news of the verdict was excellent. The direction in this film is superb. The sets and costumes were wonderfully matched to the period. The photography was rich and full of complimentary colors. Mamet was meticulous in subtle details, such as the scene where a hanging piece, as evidenced by its outline, was obviously missing from the wall due to the costly fight for the boy's honor. Mamet uses the camera well to create impact with extreme close ups, like the close up of the wax seal on the letter from the school and another of a passage from the Bible. He directs the actors adeptly with just the right mix of restrained passion and proper English demeanor typical of early 20th century England. The dialogue was delivered crisply with rapid fire exchanges, reminiscent of films made in the 40's and 50's, a style that has been all but lost in contemporary films. The portrayal of the subtle romantic tension between natural antagonists Sir Robert, the staunch conservative and Catherine Winslow, the crusading liberal, was marvelous. The acting was fabulous. Jeremy Northam (Sir Robert Morton) had an excellent 1999 with this role and his role of Sir Robert Chiltern in "An Ideal Husband". He seems to be inspired by roles where his name is Sir Robert. Rebecca Pidgeon reunites with Mamet again after "The Spanish Prisoner" and gives a strong performance of the phlegmatic liberal woman's suffragette who is caught in the maelstrom of her brother's fight. Her's was a difficult role because her character was a highly passionate crusader compelled to restraint due to the constraints of the etiquette of the times. She did a good job of portraying a sardonic disdain for such phoniness delivering simple courtesies with obvious contempt. Yet, she was often a little too deadpan about her own emotions. Nigel Hawthorne gave a fine performance as the patriarch. He gave a good rendition of a proud and powerful man in decline as age, his infirmities and the legal fight took their toll on him. Newcomer Guy Edwards was excellent as Ronnie Winslow. He was the picture of a proper British boy, but when confronted with the postal order, he would stare you right in the eyes, plant his heels and convince you he didn't do it and that he was telling the truth. I gave this film a 9/10. It is yet another terrific British project that is a must see for the intelligent and refined viewer.
Rating: 
Summary: The Winslow Boy
Review: Such a restraint of emotion. At times you just wanted someone to cry or give each other hug. Which in turn gets you emotionally involved in it. I think that is the whole point of the movie: the characters make you react to what they are doing. It involves the audience. It's not a movie where you just sit there and watch the characters emotionally go through their troubles while you are just along for the ride. The movie makes you, the audience, participate by you providing the reactions and emotions. You'll catch yourself looking at the person beside you to see them smile or look hurt. The movie leaves you feeling good as though you accomplished something and were a part of these characters lives. Because of the restraint of emotion you feel the characters are much deeper than they are letting on. The movie ends before they have to show you what obviously will happen. The daughter and Sir Robert will get married. It's like the movie says, "we tried to be intelligent the whole movie and will now not put the Hollywood ending on that you crave. You're intelligent enough to know what will happen. We don't have to tell you". It goes with the whole theme of restraining your emotions and leaving you with the satisfied feeling that they will get together. Wonderfully Rated G. Why does a good movie need sex, violence or swearing, if it is satisfying enough mentally and emotionally. Rent it and pay attention. It's a movie you can't get up and leave from for 5 minutes and then come back and know what's going on. You have to rewind it to catch every word.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating snapshot of an English family and their politics
Review: Sometimes the silences in movies are as important as the dialogue. Mamet uses both brilliantly and deliberately in this intriguing film. Jeremy Northam finally gets to use his intelligence and acting skill in this film, so for all you Northam fans this movie is a must-see. The rest of the actors are fine as well, especially Mamet's wife Rebecca Pidgeon. I haven't liked many of her previous roles in his films, but she is well-matched to Northam and really shines here. The music, cinematography, and set design are all excellent.
Rating:
Summary: A perfect family movie! Brilliantly acted!
Review: My family tends to be very strict when it comes to movies so we were a bit wary when it came to watching this- but it has become of my favourite films. There is *no* bad language, no sexual insinuations, no "bed scenes", nothing that makes you blush. It is a beautiful story about a family who is willing to do anything for the boy's innocence. Hollywood should be applauded for making a movie like this- it is so very clean & such a wonderful story!
Rating:
Summary: Mamet gives strong showing in Merchant & Ivory territory.
Review: A beautiful, subtle film. One of the year's best.
A shock, a surprise, a revelation--David Mamet's idiosyncratic style is a perfect match for the era. The story and performances are nearly flawless, and the ending scene is a masterpiece of careful emotion--I can only compare it to certain scenes in 'Remains of the Day.'
Rating:
Summary: Spectacular
Review: The Winslow Boy is my second DVD, and I disagree with everything degrading said about it. The color is rich and full, the characters clearly outlined, and the story engaging. True, I would have loved to see Sir Robert's final courtroom dramatics, but all in all, it's a great buy, and I'll defintly reccomend it to anyone I come across. The DVD is wonderful! Dramatic to the hilt, the story is believable, and change for the better. There are also some hilarious moments between Kathryn and Sir Robert and the issue of Women's Suffrage. SEE this movie!
Rating:
Summary: A quietly brilliant gem
Review: The Winslow Boy is easily my favorite movie experience of 1999. There are too few films like this with its superb (and profanity-free!) dialogue and thought-provoking characterizations. I believe this new version's omission of the final courtroom dramatics (mentioned by an earlier reviewer) was a brilliant decision of director Mamet's. Here, the out-of-court dialogues and polite parlor interplay tell the story in crafty, ultimately revealing layers... Yes, there is a touch of ambiguity in some of the characters' motives which, for me, makes all the undercurrent discoveries more exciting and personal. These people are very real and express their feelings only to the point that real people tend to air their souls... which is to say, not that much! The subtle ambiguity reminds me of the novels of master-author Henry James. Intelligent, psychologically fascinating, detective-y almost, and romantic. It's beautifully directed -- Mamet excels at twisty, mind-bending plots and I think his trademark touches weave very well into a multi-character study like this one. The actors are universally charismatic and memorable. It's certainly Jeremy Northam's and Rebecca Pigeon's best work... and when isn't Nigel Hawthorne amazing? He's brilliant here. And for such an elegant, mannered period movie, it gives off unexpected electricity. There's nothing like great dialogue to create great chemistry!
Rating: 
Summary: 1 Star for the DVD; 5 stars for the film
Review: This excellent film has been transferred out of focus and improperly timed for color and light. When I saw this movie in a theater, I was very impressed with the overall visual quality of the picture, but the DVD looks overexposed and blurry, and the richness of the color has been lost. A huge disappointment...
Rating:
Summary: We Make Sacrifices For Justice
Review: When director David Mamet created the new 1999 screen adaptation of the Winslow Boy I wondered if he took the advice I gave him in a letter after he directed The Spanish Prisoner. I advised him to continue making movies that are for the whole family, but with an appeal for adults. Well He did it! This is the first "G" rated film, intended for an adult audience, that I remember in years. At the onset, Ronnie Winslow (The Winslow boy) has been expelled from a prestigious English Naval prep school. When Ronnie tells his father Arthur Winslow (Nigel Hawthorne) that he was innocent of any wrongdoing, Arthur begins a fight to restore his son's name. The film is not a courtroom drama; it is more of an examination of characters that choose to make great personal sacrifices for a beloved. Interestingly the film opens with the family coming home from Sunday services. As they enter their house they chat about the scripture reading of the day. The reading happens to be from Gen. 41:18 about Joseph's interpretation of Pharaoh's dream. In pharaoh's dream the seven lean cows eat the seven fat cows, foreshadowing the coming meager years in their own household. The story mainly focuses on three characters, Arthur Winslow, his daughter Catherine (Rebecca Pidgeon, who also had a leading role in the Spanish Prisoner and is the directors wife), and the family attorney Sir Robert Morton (played by the handsome Jeremy Northam). Catherine is a liberated but temperate suffragette. Sir Robert is the cool and "apparently" passionless, self-interested lawyer who is opposed to feminism. The most fun scenes are when these two are juxtaposed. A little Pride and Prejudice without the pride. Once again we see the age-old dichotomy between the logical man and the intuition of a women; I never tire of it. The film's premise is that justice and truth are worth sacrificing for. God the Father's Son was unjustly accused and was made to pay even while he was innocent. So to, we see this earthly father watch his son unjustly accused. Conversely, just as with Isaac and Abraham, our Father in heaven is often more gentle with us than He is even with His own Son. Keep in mind while you watch the film that there are certain devices that David Mamet uses that give the film his signature; devices that make the films "Mametesque", if you will. The first thing to look for is how the characters will often rephrase their statements; they rephrase their statements. Get it. Another device he uses is omission. Characters may be talking to one another and you are listening just fine until they walk behind a wall and then you don't hear them any more. The thing omitted is always something seemingly important that you really wanted to know. Sometimes you find out later in the story and sometimes you don't. If it's important to understanding the characters you will find out, but if it is nonessential to the plot, i.e. how much money the process is going to make, you won't find out. I highly recommend this film. My three and five year olds fell asleep. My eight and ten year olds enjoyed the film and I think they learned a lesson about telling the truth.
Rating: 
Summary: Poor remake of original
Review: Warning: Spoiler! This remake omits Sir Robert Morton's dramatic courtroom speech towards the end of the original movie. The speech is absolutely essential to fully experiencing and understanding Morton's motivation and the theme of the story. The remake also fails to convey the sense of determination and nobility on the part of the senior Winslow that the original did. For this and other faults, I was most disappointed with this movie. Go see the original.
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