Queen & Country (2014) Reviews

• A sweet and ultimately satisfying post-war drama, it avoids the clichés that plague some war films to deliver a solid experience.

  Rabsi2015-01-07

  The post-war period often seems like a bit of a black hole for films. Aside from the films made at the time which dealt with the issues the population faced, most notably Italian Neorealism, contemporary films prefer to explore the actual conflict themselves. More drama is to be found there. But while World War II was 'the' war, the conflict never really stopped, and Britain still had mandatory military service at the age of 18, with deployment to Korea for their civil war a real proposition. This is what John Boorman focuses on for what is probably his final film, and a sequel to his most famous work, the 1987 mildly autobiographical piece Hope And Glory. We are told the story of Bill, a young boy in the first film. He has grown up into quite the strapping young fellow, and he received his notice for mandatory army service. There he quickly befriends Percy, and a bond forms. But this bond is hardly the centre of the film. It stretches far beyond that, as Bill deals with the army, love and his family. This is all well paced handled by Boorman, who is probably best known, aside from Hope And Glory, for directing Deliverance. The acting is quite spotty on a case by case basis, Callum Turner does very well as the protagonist Bill Rohan, but you can't help but think he was constantly being overshadowed by a couple of doses of overacting. Being manic or excitable is all well and good, but there occasions where people were channelling their inner Joker or Harley Quinn. On the subject of acting, David Thewlis (of Harry Potter fame) is present and he is phenomenal, one of my favourite acting performances of the year. Furthermore, the script isn't perfect either. There were too many logical inconsistencies, especially early on, where background character information is introduced in very lazy ways, usually dialogue. It's frustrating to see two characters talking to each other about things they clearly already know, and that it's only for the audience's benefit. What is best about the film is that it tells the story of war really well. This was something a film like Fury really fell short at, relying on clichés to tell a heroic story. Even though there are very few scenes of combat, Queen And Country definitely gets right what Fury got wrong, showing the horrors of war, what it does to people and how anyone can be a victim or a casualty. That goes a long way in my book. Read more at rabsi1.weebly.com/film/

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• A dignified and poignant sequel to "Hope and Glory"

  lizarkeo2014-10-27

  Watching "Queen and Country" was for me the equivalent of watching a proper and deserved sequel to "Aliens" (1986), written and directed nearly 30 years later by its creator, James Cameron. And even with a completely different cast, you realize that the beloved main characters from the original classic are essentially the same. Only 10 years more mature. When John Boorman directed "Hope and Glory" (released just a year after "Aliens"), I, at age 16, decided it was and would always be one of my favorite movies. And when in 2014 I knew that, 27 years later, he would release a sequel, I WAS IN HEAVEN. And after watching twice - at the 2014 edition of the Mostra International de Cinema de São Paulo - I can say with relief that all the effort Mr. Boorman had to complete this film was not in vain, quite the contrary. And he has said - at age 81 - that this was his last film. A pity. Because the Rowan family deserves at least a trilogy. Main points of my review: Despite wishing for a sequel - mostly to keep track of what happened (SPOILERS again) between Percy and Dawn - "Queen and Country" is a worthy ending for all these wonderful, old and new, characters. Thank you, Mr. Boorman.

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• Disappointing sequel...

  lachouettebenevent2015-01-12

  Queen and Country is set after the end of 2nd World War and in the time of compulsory military service. In short, not a lot happens....disappointingly so, especially if you enjoyed John Boorman's autobiographical account of his London childhood during the war. Having moved to Pharoah's Island on the Thames near Shepperton, the film leaps forward to the mid 1950's with Bill Rohan leaving his idyllic family home to being called up for military service. Bookish and sensitive, he is an engaging young man and is beautifully played by Callum Turner. Ever on the fringe of being sent to Korea, Rohan is expected to train new recruits how to type. He falls in love, is thwarted in love, proves to be a loyal friend to the bizarrely-accented Percy (Texas-born actor Caleb Landry Jones - that explains that then!) then finally falls in love with the right girl and presumably goes on to become a famous film director......

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• Grown up Sequel to 'Hope and Glory'.

  t-dooley-69-3869162015-08-27

  Writer and director John Boorman introduced us to some of these characters back in 1987 with the marvellous war time tale – 'Hope and Glory'. Bill is now ten years old and has been sent off to do his National Service – only we are now involved in the Korean War (which still limps on to this day – peace never having been formally agreed). He and his mate Percy though end up stuck in base camp teaching the typing pool. Life in the camp is far from fun and games and the strict Regimental Sergeant Major and Sergeant Major make their life a bit of a hell – so they create diversions, shenanigans and go chasing the girls near the base by way of diversion. However, as with all diversions – whether on camp or elsewhere – there will be consequences. Now this is a very well made film, period detail is great etc. The make up is all good and the acting is generally very good. Caleb Landry Jones as Percy Hapgood though struck me as miscast – his accent is unplacable (perhaps as he is American?); he does the emotion well but seems a bit unhinged – which may indeed have been the point. David Thewlis is probably the most stand out performance as the irritatingly unlikeable Bradley – and shows how broad his acting abilities are. Overall though a very good film and if you were a fan of the original, then you will probably want to see – but the jokes are much thinner on the ground here, but it still has a vibrancy that evokes the time and the passion in an endearing way.

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• Not very good

  jbar192015-09-02

  Hope and Glory was delicious, sweet, sad and charming. This sequel, well, seems like a sequel in name only. Some characters from the previous movie show up, but only in very, very minor and brief, non consequential roles. The main story is a little boring and uneventful, like a bland episode of MASH. Pity, I really wanted to like this movie. There just isn't a lot of meat on the table. Tasmin Egarton was GORGEOUS as was Vanessa Kirby. Callum Turner and Caleb Landry Jones did a very good job with what they had, there just wasn't much of a story. The movie didn't just end as much as run out of script... I was actually surprised when the end credits appeared. Sad. I wanted more.

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