Rent 1984 (Nineteen Eighty Four) (1984)

Who Do You Love? - 1984 (Nineteen Eighty Four) review by Steve

This intelligent adaptation of George Orwell's landmark novel of ideas is inevitably a downbeat experience, but also incisive and horrifying. As well as the topicality of its release in 1984, the intention was to re-imagine the text as dystopian science fiction, though the script is actually scrupulously faithful to the author's ideas.

Sometimes these are spun into dialogue or the voice over of Winston Smith as he begins to lose faith in the totalitarianism of future Britain. He even reads out lines from a manual! This isn't always cinematic, but still philosophically thrilling! Okay, it helps to know the novel, but then... it's among the most widely read books ever.

All of its concepts are here, including the impression of the nation stuck between WWII and the threat of Stalinism. The incredibly muted colour palette is appropriately dour, but still allows optimistic colour to seep into Winston's illusion of freedom. And John Hurt makes one of the most iconic names in literature live and breath.

Richard Burton is intellectually terrifying as O'Brien, while Suzanna Hamilton makes Winston's hazardous romance with Julia into a heartbreaker. Where Orwell is schematic, director Michael Radford brings in glum realism. The novel is often called unfilmable... Well... perhaps. It's certainly difficult to imagine it could be done better.