The Unseen Movie Review

Churchill: The Hollywood Years

Winston Churchill: one of the most famous names and most iconic figures of the last century, hailed as one of the greatest Britons of the last millennium and lauded to this day as one of the finest statesmen the world has ever produced.

Of course, the only trouble from a filmmaker’s perspective is that Churchill was rather old, fat, bald and ugly by the time he came to lead the country during the Second World War. Surely from a movie audience’s point of view it would be better to have a young and handsome Winston? And why make him a Brit? I mean, most film audiences are American, and none of them would understand a British accent. Best make him a yank so that they can better identify with the guy. But keep the cigars – it makes him a real man. Oh – and that Princess they’ve got over there, the one that’ll be Queen one day – what’s her name again? Elizabeth? Yeah – she can be the love interest!

It’s a good premise for a spoof on Hollywood’s constantly-bemoaned distortions of history. Co-written and directed by The Comic Strip Presents’ Peter Richardson, and with a supporting cast featuring British comedians from several generations, from Leslie Phillips to Miranda Richardson and Rik Mayall via Harry Enfield, Vic and Bob, Stella Street’s Phil Cornwell and The Office’s Mackenzie Crook, this is a thoroughly British take on a thoroughly American tendency to re-write history for the screen.

Added to all this comic promise is the knowledge that the two lead characters – Churchill and Princess Elizabeth – are being portrayed by two of Hollywood’s best, but often under-appreciated, comic actors: Christian Slater and Neve Campbell. Slater has kept a fairly low profile since his highly-publicised run-in with the law a few years back, but has recently been pushing for a return to form, with headline-grabbing turns in the Jack Nicholson role in the stage version of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and a heavy presence on the interview circuit. Campbell is still trying to shake off her reputation as being “the girl from the Scream films”.

So, has the talent involved produced a film worthy of their collective skills and the amusing concept? Well, nearly… Depending on your point of view, this will either be a bit of a dud with a few good moments or a good but under-funded attempt at a top-notch movie.

The lack of budget is palpable at times. Especially as it is supposed to be spoofing big-budget Hollywood productions, the money should really be seen on screen, but instead seems to have been splurged on a series of cameos which all but the most devoted of British TV comedy buffs will probably miss. It is hard – very hard – to see how it could appeal to US audiences, for the humour is very, very British.

But then, we aren’t a US audience, and as such should relish the chance to see such a fine ensemble cast working so nicely together. It’s a bit like a Carry On film in this regard, only far less puerile, and with comedy straight out of the either-you-get-it-or-you-don’t school of the director’s cult TV hit Stella Street. If you liked that, you’ll most likely like this. The trouble is, very few people ever saw Stella Street and, if the studio continue faffing about with this film’s release, the same is likely to happen here. So see it while you get the chance.

posted by Nosemonkey @ 12:00 AM