vivdunstan

I started watching this film while Martin was away, and only finished it the other night.

I enjoyed it, but it felt like too little story over stretched. It tells the life of young Tolkien, from young boy, through school and university, experiences in the Great War, and a little after. It just felt too much like a series of vignettes, with things often under-explored that could have merited further depth.

A particular strength was in the portrayal of Tolkien's closest group of school friends, and their TCBS or "Tea Club and Barrovian Society". This carries through to their war experiences, and was very moving in places. I was also impressed by the actors playing the younger versions, including a young Ty Tennant.

The romance between Tolkien and Edith is well acted by both - I was especially impressed by Lily Collins - but again it felt sketched in too faintly. And then set aside for a long period.

The guest cast is strong. I was particularly delighted to see Derek Jacobi pop up as a key university lecturer in Tolkien's story. Though again he was underused, and this story not explored sufficiently for me.

A lot of the emotional heft was in the war and its consequences, but I found the war scenes overlong, especially the frequent more artistically slow motion versions, which were clearly trying to draw analogies with later characters and scenes in Tolkien's own books. I suppose I just wasn't engaging in the way the film makers hoped the audience would. But these scenes for me padded what was already a too underdeveloped story.

This sounds really critical reading it back! I did like a lot. But it was I suppose ultimately disappointing for me. Too little, stretched too far. I can't comment on the historical accuracy, and gather from prior reading that the film takes a lot of liberties. That doesn't trouble me so much as poor writing, pacing and in places directing, that even a strong cast couldn't lift.

Rating 2.5/5. I don't usually go for half scores, but 2/5 would be too low for me, and 3/5 too high!