A Man for All Seasons

Rating:
Summary: Superb Cinema!
Review: Simply put, this is quite possibly the finest film ever produced. Upon every level on which films are judged, this work of genius scores the highest attainable marks. It is a joy to watch, it is a joy to listen to, and it is a joy to reflect upon long after it is over.
The dialogue is so brilliantly crafted, it often leaves you physically gasping. The performances are so astonishing, you completely forget that you have seen most of the performers many other times, because it is impossible to disassociate them from these characters and this time period. The cinematography, the set design, the score, the lighting, the costume design, all are absolutely extraordinary.
Granted, this film is not for everyone. There are no explosions,
sex, potty humor or car chases. But if you would enjoy an interesting moment in British history, extremely well presented, this jewel of a movie is an absolute must-see.

Rating:
Summary: Not quite Utopia
Review: Films such as this are rare today; 'A Man for All Seasons' turns not on action sequences of battles past or present, nor on love affairs, or indeed political issues that have a burning relevance for today. It is not a comedy, nor a tragedy in the classic sense. In a word, it would seem to have little to recommend it -- however, it is one of the best film ever produced. Turning largely on the issue of personal integrity and the conflict of competing calls to faithfulness, this is a drama of the interior struggle of Sir Thomas More, Lord Chancellor of England, writ large across the political/religious landscape of Henry VIII's England.

The whole tone of the film is excellent. From the opening scenes of couriers dashing from Wolsey to More, backdrops of pre-Renaissance England fill the screen, from the magnificent but appropriate un-ornate manor houses and parliamentary scenes (the set of Westminster Hall, a building in which I once worked) to the costuming and music, period in style and instrumentation. The director Fred Zimmermann resisted the urge to provide orchestral music as a background; indeed, through much of the film, there is no music at all, as the drama itself carries the weight of the narrative and atmosphere. The cinematographer, Ted Moore, as well as the director received Academy Awards for their work.

This is an actor's film, the force of the drama being driven by their performances. Exceptional acting by John Hurt, Leo McKern, Nigel Davenport and Robert Shaw enhance lead actor Paul Scofield's Oscar-winning portrayal. Scofield presents the intellectual More as a character of supreme integrity (following Bolt's play perfectly), an integrity hard to maintain in the shifting sands of Henry VIII's drive to break with Rome to secure a divorce. More, as chancellor of England after Wolsey (portrayed in a slightly-more-than-cameo appearance by an effective but declining Orson Welles), was charged with maintaining both peace with the King and his faithfulness to the church, of which he was an acknowledged intellectual leader throughout Europe. In the end, the church won out -- as More said at his execution, 'I remain the King's good subject, but God's first.'

Hurt and McKern portray Richard Rich and Thomas Cromwell, schemers and social climbers of which royal courts are always full. Nigel Davenport as the friend who becomes an enemy, himself turned by the political tides, is also effective, but the best role beyond Scofield's is that Robert Shaw, who portrays the 'lion of England', Henry VIII, capricious and volatile, far too taken with his own sense of purpose and without many courageous enough to stand against him.

The roles of More's wife Alice (Wendy Hiller) and daughter Meg (Susannah York) are admirably played. Alice as the illiterate yet intelligent wife of More is concerned for the family's well-being; Meg as the educated daughter (More's experimental school practiced, generations ahead of its time, gender equality in education) almost steals the scene from Shaw at one point. Hiller's performance as More's companion up to the scene in the Tower is strongly portrayed, and she does not lose her character in the face of so many other powerful figures.

Rare in film-making today, the full force of the plot develops upon the device of Qui tacet consentit - silence implies consent. More relied on the legal idea that, so long as he did not speak out against the king, his silence implied consent and he was safe. However, as Cromwell (correctly) argued, More's silence was not meaningless, nor was it taken as consent by any who knew him. On this one point, More's integrity falters, for he was intelligent enough to know that the truth was different from the legal fiction; however, this was also the position he maintained regarding Henry's marriage to Anne Boleyn.

This is not a feel-good movie; indeed, the final narration makes one wonder rather at the idea of justice in the world. Yet it is a meaningful and stunning film, and one deserving of viewing by all.

Rating:
Summary: Magnificent !
Review: There is a reason that this movie is one that most presidents love to watch. It is politics on a grand scale when your life was at stake. Here is a man who stood by his convictions and the law. He did not flip-flop or try to make light of his views of the church or the state. He lived in a very tough time and rose to a high office and lost all of it for principle. This tells the story eloquently - you are unable to stop watching for a single second. Try this movie for sure.

Rating:
Summary: Remarkable Film
Review: There is not much I can add to the wonderful reviews written already about this great film. I can just add my highest recommendation for you to see this film if you have not already. Read the reviews that others have written on here! They say it all very well. This movie is a precious gem that you will want to look at again and again. 5 Stars are not enough to rate this one. It is a masterpiece! I know this review will not rate as helpful but I could not let it go without saying how much I love this movie and highly recommend it.
An absolute must see movie and one you should own.