Tolkien – Review

Tolkien Movie

Tolkien film review; Lord of the Rings, Nicholas HoultDirected by: Dome Karakoski

Runtime: 111 minute

There are two types of people in the world: those who adore Lord of the Rings, and those who don’t really care about it. I have always resided firmly in the latter. While, as a fantasy fan, I could appreciate the absolute magnificence and detail that author J.R.R. Tolkien had coloured his world with, I was always unable to maintain concentration during the reading of his books. When going to see Tolkien I had my reservations. Apart from most authorial biopics being terrible, this one, in particular, seemed like it would suffer from incredible banality. Thankfully, I was pleasantly surprised.

The film opts to follow the early life of the would-be writing superstar John Ronald Reul Tolkien (Nicholas Hoult), focusing particularly on his camaraderie with his three school-chums, Rob Gilson, Geoffrey Bache Smith and Christopher Wiseman. Framed by a treacherous journey through French trenches in WWI, we are treated to a tightly-written and focused narrative surrounding the author. Plot-wise, the film excels—told in a compact, steady, and consistent manner, we are treated to satisfying character arcs and an emotional heart that elevates this biopic over the average cash-grab.

The performances are strong throughout. Hoult plays Tolkien with an elegant, stoic charm that works exceptionally well as the centrepiece of the film. Lily Collins is also fine as Tolkien’s love interest, Edith, presenting a character that is a tad more interesting to watch than the majority of would-be wives in this kind of flick. However, while the adults were good, the true heart of the film lay in the teenage performances. Harry Gilby, Adam Bregman, Albie Marber, and Ty Tennant portray the core friendship group so excellently that it provides the foundations for the successful emotional moments later on.

Visually, the film is a delight. Director Dome Karukoski obviously has a love for Tolkien, and this is reflected in the aesthetic flair present throughout. Interesting transitions and shots elevate the film beyond the generic formula used for most biopics, with highlights resting within the war scenes. The horrors of the conflict are portrayed viscerally, with Tolkien’s imaginings interspliced in a beautiful, yet heartbreaking manner.

In essence, I enjoyed Tolkien wholeheartedly. With a small, quaint film such as this, I hardly have high expectations. However, some stylistic flair and a good amount of heart boosted Tolkien above the average biopic. By focusing on one particular aspect of the man’s life, the film avoided the usual trappings I have seen modern biopics fall into. Will this win an Academy Award? Probably not. However, did it entertain me? Absolutely.

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply