Thursday, August 27, 2015

Review: Testament of Youth (2015)

Vikander is stunning in this captivating melodrama.

Directed by James Kent
Produced by David Heyman and Rosie Alison
Written by Juliette Towhidi (from Vera Brittain’s memoir)
Starring Alicia Vikander, Kit Harrington, Taron Egerton, Emily Watson, Haley Atwell, Colin Morgan, Dominic West and Miranda Richardson

A

Based on the bestselling memoir, Alicia Vikander stars as Vera Brittain, a young woman bent on going to the University of Oxford. Her father (West) is against it, but her brother Edward (Egerton) convinces him to change his mind. Having already met a young Oxford student named Roland Leighton (Harrington), Vera’s future is looking bright, until World War I breaks out, sending her brother and first love off to battle. Naturally, Vera is unable to focus on her studies, so she joins the war effort as a nurse. Through the tough years she endures, waiting to see light at the end of the tunnel. Vera might not come away unscathed, but her future as a pacifist is born from a romance amidst the first World War.

Much has been made of the classical approach to this British film, but the criticisms are ill-fitting for this melodramatic weeper. Director James Kent has previously done TV work, though he transitions to film with ease, displaying a natural touch for this historical material. Alicia Vikander, who is becoming the actress of the year (with possibly seven films out), is a revelation, delivering a complex, shattering portrayal of an amazing woman who became the famed pacifist. While he isn’t the film’s strongest element, Kit Harrington fares well in his limited screen time, and Taron Egerton proves he has more to give than the cocksure swagger he showed in Kingsman: The Secret Service. Meanwhile, the film is simply gorgeous, not unlike recent efforts such as Atonement and The Deep Blue Sea, boasting rich cinematography, fine production design, excellent costume work, and a beautiful score (from Max Richter, no less). Great films often fail at the box office and in the awards game, but Testament of Youth remains one of the year’s best, sadly overlooked, offerings.

Oscar Potential: None

14 comments:

  1. I'm so ready for this one!!! It sounds incredible!

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    1. Ugh, this is, like, my The Immigrant this year. It's probably my #2 right now. Can't wait for you to see it. I just hope you LOVE it! ;)

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  2. Great review! I really loved this movie also, such a great cast that all gave awesome performances. Glad you liked it!

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    1. Thanks! I hope more people seek it out on DVD. It's so good!

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  3. My theater had this one and I never went to see it. I wasn't sure if I wanted to or not. Seems like I should've went. Damn. lol

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    1. Good news: it's coming out on DVD in late October. ;)

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  4. I just put Taron on my list of actor discoveries I'd love to see more of. Nice to hear he's more than all swagger and can handle a dramatic role. Haven't seen Kit in anything as I don't watch GoT, so I'm curious to see him here. I've been liking Vikander in everything I've seen her in, but Haley Atwell is here too? I'm sold!!

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    1. Yay! Attwell has a great supporting role in the film. Hope you like the film!

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    2. I adore Atwell, I'll see everything she's in so yeah, can't wait to see this.

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  5. Thanks for bringing this to my attention, I had heard a vague reference to it somewhere but hadn't really paid attention. It sounds right up my alley with all kinds of elements that I love. I know that Alicia Vikander is one of the current IT girls but I haven't seen much of her work.

    I did just see her in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. which I really enjoyed and I liked her in it. I was sorry to see it not do terribly well, for what it was I thought it was one of the best to come down the pike in some time.

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    1. Hope you get a chance to see it soon. Right now, I'd give it noms for Picture, Director, Actress, Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography, and Score. Vikander and Mulligan are my Actress frontrunners, but I'd go with Vikander at the moment.

      I've seen some of Vikander's previous work, but she's having quite a year. I also really enjoyed The Man from U.N.C.L.E., which has grown on me since I saw it.

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  6. Testament of Youth is on my watchlist, I like Alicia Vikander even though she's in everything this year :)

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    1. Haha, Vikander's been in a lot, but she's 3/3 for me so far. :)

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