Rent The Lion in Winter (2003)
3.5 of 5 from 55 ratings
2h 54min
- General info
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- Synopsis:
A fearsome father. A scheming mother. Three sons battling for attention. YoiTre cordially invited to attend their seasonal family reunion. But this is 1183, an era of barbarians, and this family is histoiy. In the waning years of his life, but no less brutal for it. King Henry II (Patrick Stewart) is holding Christmas court at Chinon, during which he'll announce the blood successor to his throne. Assembled for this event are his equally calculating wife, Eleanoi of Acquitaine (Glenn Close), imprisoned for ten years by her husband for a political coup of her own; his shamelessly flaunted mistress, Alais (Julia Vysotskaia), and her venomous brother, King Philip of France (Jonathan Rhys Meyers); and Hemy's three sons. Prince Richard the Lionhearted (Andrew Howard), who can't fathom the depth of leadership, the shallow Prince Geoffrey (John Light), and the luckless and bumbling Prince John (Rafe Spall). What the three siblings share is a gift for treachery. After all, they were taught by masters. Richard, Geoffrey, and John prepare to engage in their own brand of deception to stake their claim. But as this unique celebration gets underway, it degenerates into an emotional gauntlet for everyone. More than a temperamental war of words - those alone will be sharp enough to draw blood - it becomes an exorcism of, deep-rooted failures and long-held resentments as pretensions and inner demons are shrewdly stripped away. Before the holiday is over, not only will a marriage, a love affair, a family, and an empire be in jeopardy, but lives as well, as Henry mercilessly wields the authority that has made him the greatest and most dangerous power in a thousand years. - Actors:
- Glenn Close, Andrew Howard, Antal Konrád, John Light, Soma Marko, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Rafe Spall, Patrick Stewart, Yuliya Vysotskaya, Clive Wood
- Directors:
- Andrey Konchalovskiy
- Producers:
- Dyson Lovell
- Writers:
- James Goldman
- Studio:
- Brightspark
- Genres:
- Action & Adventure, Classics, Drama, Romance
- Collections:
- A History of British Queens in Film, Award Winners, Oscars: Winners & Losers, A Brief History of Film..., Top 10 Films and Shows About British Princes, Top Films
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Reviews (2) of The Lion in Winter
What a disappointment - The Lion in Winter review by MR
Simply awful. We gave up after the first section. Glenn Close was fine but the actors playing the three sons were dire . And one turned out to be Rafe Spall who now delivers fine performances. The feasting scenes were laughable . The scenery lacked credibility. What a waste of effort; I am sorry that we bothered. Quite the worst film we have had from Cinema Paradiso !!
2 out of 2 members found this review helpful.
Comparisons are invidious..... - The Lion in Winter review by SB
but difficult to avoid them when not only is this a remake of a distinguished film from the sixties, but both versions are based on the same stage play, and the scripts of the films are virtually identical (not necessarily a bad thing, because there is some fine language). Although there should have been more scope by 2003, this film does not escape its stage origins much more successfuly, despite lots of shots of the countryside and freezing cold settings complete with mistletoe. The direction is no more than workmanlike.
As for the performances, the three sons are a mixed bunch, with Rafe Spall unrecognisble as the fat, dim and vicious John. Anthony Howard does bring out some of the weakness and vanity which later made Richard I England's worst-ever king. Jonathan Rhys-Meyers actually isn't bad as the not-so-innocent young French king, although a haircut would have been welcome. As Henry's mistress and prospective daughter-in-law Alais, the beautiful Yuliya Vysotskaya (coincidentally, the wife of the director) models some nice clothes and pouts when required.
But this film revolves around the two leads. In Glenn Close and Patrick Stewart, the film has two fine actors and there's nothing very wrong; but for me, there is still a feeling that something important is missing, as if the key ingredient has been omitted from a classic dish. I think that is because they act the parts, quite well; but Hepburn and O'Toole actually elevated themselves beyond the script and in doing so, became these two people for a few hours, as if we were there in that French castle.
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.