Orwell Would Be Proud (Nineteen Eighty-Four (DVD))

Member Name: nilo0901

Product:	Nineteen Eighty-Four (DVD)
Date:	10/11/09 (11 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: True to the book, great performances, direction and visuals

Disadvantages: Very depressing and slow moving

Nineteen Eighty-Four is the feature film made from the George Orwell novel of the same name. It was released in the year 1984 and stars John Hurt playing Winston whose job it is to rewrite history for the government. Winston is opposed to the regime and its oppression and begins a relationship with Julia (Suzanna Hamilton) that is strictly forbidden by 'Big Brother'. Found out he must undergo torture and interrogation for his sins and anti-establishment ways by his former ally O'Brien (Richard Burton).

This film is a very gloomy recreation of an already gloomy book. This is not light entertainment and makes for very depressing and slow moving viewing, which is portrayed throughout by the very bleak visual palette of the film. The cinematography deserves great credit as this is some of the most starkly depressing scenery ever captured on film. The future according to 1984 is far from bright, or glossy. This is just the first indication of how true to the book the film is and how it does not try to glamorise.

John Hurt is exceptional as Winston and one can really feel his doom and weariness throughout. I think it's one of his best performances to date purely for the understated nature of it. I've always found Hurt can be one to get a little too hammy for me but he resists here which is a joyous pleasure. Richard Burton plays his last ever screen role and is perhaps one of the most terrifying characters in cinema history simply through his twisted almost kindness towards Winston while torturing. It's a performance I find hard to compare with many other than perhaps Alec Guinness in 'Bridge Over The River Qwai' for it's sheer empathic perplexity.

Michael Radford (later of Il Postino fame) as director has done a great job bringing this film to the screen in such menacing fashion. Even the love scenes between Winston and Julia have a dark and blunt quality to them. There is little light or joy in this world and Radford has done marvellously well to covey this.

If you are after a lighthearted, Sunday afternoon film to enjoy with your girlfriend/ boyfriend or family, I urge you, please look elsewhere. If you're feeling down, this one is not going to cheer you up. It is however masterfully made and true to the book so fans of this, or cinema in general, should give it a go.

Summary: For Cinema Lovers or Orwell Lovers Mainly