TO KILL A KING
Saturday 17 May 2003
UGC Trocadero, London W1 VISIT

A film with actors as interesting as Tim Roth, Rupert Everett and the most likely candidate to be the next James Bond, Dougray Scott, had to be worth checking out. Sad to report then that such a considerable assembly of acting talent failed to breathe life into this flat and emotionless costume drama. Anyone expecting a modern A Man for All Seasons or The Lion in Winter will be greatly disappointed.

Trying to explain it to friends, the word that popped into my head was Hornblower. It was just like one of those television dramas on ITV that looks quite good, has a barrel load of English character actors in minor roles but hasn’t the money for too many large-scale and expensive action scenes. ‘To Kill A King’ would probably have made a good TV drama series where the characters could have been given the time to be fleshed out. Instead, the film hurries through a turbulent period in English history with a series of caricatures and none of the storytelling of programmes like Hornblower or the Sharpe series

The story that IS told is also historically inaccurate. For instance, the relationship between Dougray Scott’s Sir Thomas Fairfax and Tim Roth’s Oliver Cromwell was not in reality the most central to events leading to the execution of Charles I and the portrayal of Cromwell as a Puritan fanatic is simply wrong. He was instead an often undecided, cautious member of the gentry who had opposed Leveller demands for universal male suffrage. There were many others more passionate about bringing the king to trial, including Cromwell’s cousin Henry Ireton. That relationship would have been a more interesting story, as would the Putney Debates or the story of the Army’s unrest over plans for an invasion of Ireland. Furthermore, the film shows Fairfax saving Cromwell’s life from an assassin’s bullet during the investiture as Lord Protector that took place three years after Fairfax’s resignation as General of the New Model Army and his retirement from public life.

Meanwhile, Rupert Everett is sadly underused as the King, whose onscreen trial is over in seconds. And Olivia Williams’ Lady Anne Fairfax doesn’t even get to utter the words most famously attributed to her – of her husband’s absence at the King’s trial, she is supposed to have said, "He hath more wit than to be here", before her forcible removal from the courtroom

But overall, there’s not enough to hate about this film, it is just damned with indifference. Maybe when it is shown on television then it might be worth seeing. Just don’t expect it to be as good as Hornblower!

X MEN 2
Saturday 10 May 2003
Stratford Picture House, London E15 VISIT

One definition of an 'event movie' must be its ability to pack out an afternoon screening like a return to the days of the Saturday matinees. That 'X-Men 2' is filling every seat some ten days after its release is an indication of its undoubted popularity.

But is it any good? I have to confess that I thought the first film was pretty average with a great beginning (the buckling gates of the concentration camp) and a poor ending (the unexciting battle around the Statue of Liberty). 'X-Men 2' has an even more blistering opening sequence than its predecessor, with a blue-skinned teleporting mutant, new character Nightcrawler, knocking down dozens of Secret Service agents in a failed attempt to assassinate the US President. The resulting anti-mutant hysteria (a knowing reminder of the anti-Muslim paranoia immediately after September 11) is a gift to sinister military scientist General William Stryker, who uses the attempt on the President's life to gain approval for a raid against the 'school for the gifted' run by Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart). The raid itself gives us an opportunity to see the first film's main character, Hugh Jackman's Wolverine, use those impressive metal claws of his to dispatch government commandos with brutal efficiency and style. Scattered and with Xavier captured, the X-Men are forced to ally themselves with their former enemy Magneto to prevent the destruction by Stryker of all mutants around the world.

In order to keep up the relentless pace over two hours, 'X-Men 2' makes few concessions to those who have not seen the first instalment. So if you haven't, you will probably be completely confused by the sheer number of characters and at least a half dozen simultaneous stories within the main plot. These include the true reason for Stryker's hatred of mutants, Wolverine's continuing search for clues to his identity, Mystique's efforts to free Magneto and the introduction of new characters Iceman, Nightcrawler and Pyro. However, the film still keeps its core theme from getting lost, that of the persecution of minorities for nothing more than being different. In one of a number of comic moments, teenager Bobby, aka Iceman, has to 'come out' to his parents, who are so stunned that they inquire, "Have you tried not being a mutant?" What was the last sci-fi action film you have seen that has something to say about homophobia?

The best parts of the film are, as before, those involving the great actor Sir Ian McKellen as Magneto. In particular, Magneto's escape from his plastic prison is ghoulishly entertaining. Halle Berry's Storm also gets a few more opportunities to demonstrate her powers to manipulate the weather, particularly in a dazzling dogfight with two fighter planes. The supposed romantic triangle between Wolverine, Cyclops and the lovely Famke Janssen as Dr Jean Gray (who without giving too much away is this film's main character) remains, however, somewhat irritating. Meanwhile, another new character Deathstrike, who like Wolverine has metal claws, has been included solely for an inevitable showdown with the man with the hairy chops. And the final confrontation with Stryker, rather like the climax of the first film (and also the disappointing ending of last year’s Spiderman) can't quite match some of the great set pieces that have come before - although this time it does have a greater emotional charge.

X-Men 2 is pure entertainment, with great special effects and a story that tackles very topical issues around racism, jingoism and tolerance. It also sets up the story for X3, which I have to say I am looking forward to immensely. I am also looking forward to seeing the current instalment for a second time, which is probably the best recommendation I can give any film. But see it before the screens are cleared for this month's real treat - the next chaper of The Matrix!