British biopic drama which explores the formative years of the celebrated fantasy writer.
Karukoski’s entertaining film boasts flair and narrative ambition, but ultimately fails to completely break free of its traditional biopic frame.
Whether or not the film satisfies the fans of Jackson’s movies or Tolkien’s books, or keeps his family happy, this is still a sympathetic and sensitive portrait of the novelist as a young man, evolving his creative vision. If you want to know where Bilbo Baggins came from, this is a good place to start.
As biopics go, Tolkien paints a convincing portrait of the future author's background and formative experiences. And yet you can't help wishing the film had taken a slightly less cosy approach, particularly in its 'family friendly' combat sequences, where the worst thing our protagonist sees is a tastefully arranged corpse.
This refreshing origins story, starring Nicholas Hoult, traces the early life of JRR Tolkien as he makes friends at Oxford, finds love and faces the horror of war.
The magic is missing from this biopic of the Lord of the Rings author.
General release. Check local listings for show times.
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