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Rating:  - The Turmoil that Cromwell Wrought
Excellent production values and some good acting make "To Kill a King" an entertaining film for those who like quasi historical dramas. This one centers on Oliver Cromwell and his friend Sir Thomas Fairfax, triangulated by Thomas' strong and willful wife Anne, played beautifully by Olivia Williams. It is Scottish actor Dougray Scott's virile portrayal of Thomas Fairfax that dominates the film, while Tim Roth's Cromwell is a dour, menacing fellow; not the kind of chap one would care to have a cuppa tea with. Depending on what historian you are reading (Like Hume or Carlyle), or what country you're in (England or Ireland), Cromwell is either thought of as a hero or a villain, and one sees the villainous side of him in this film. In the smaller part of King Charles I, convinced as many were that his rule had been ordained by God, Rupert Everett gives yet another stellar performance.
Well directed by Mike Barker, the score by Richard Mitchell greatly enhances the film, and the extras are a minimal "Behind the Scenes" featurette; I would have liked a commentary track on this one, to help piece the historical facts (and inconsistencies) together, as the film covers over 12 years of mid 17th century events. Aside from the wartime and prison violence and some gore (close-ups of bloody wounds), and very brief nudity through a veil, it's quite tame and there's nothing that should offend sensitive audiences, and for those that aren't familiar with this tumultuous period in English history "To Kill a King" may interest them enough to make further investigation of it.
Rating:  - Democracy, Liberty, Egalitarianism, Compromise
"The issues at stake - democracy, liberty, egalitarianism, compromise, pragmatism - are as important today as they were then. To Kill a King is a decent and honourable film that, unfashionably in contemporary cinema, shows some interest in ideas and how they function in public life. Unlike most films today, it would have benefited by being a good half-hour longer." Phillip French
The friendship between General Sir Thomas Fairfax, as played by Dougray Scott and Oliver Cromwell (Tim Roth) is a high point of this film. They are brought together in the years just before the end of the English Civil War in 1645. Cromwell has allowed this power to overwhelm him and when the new Charter is not accepted by King Charles I, played valiantly by Rupert Everett, he decides to bring the King to trial and executes him. This causes a great chasm between Cromwell and General Sir Fairfax. Fairfax is an honorable man and wants the good of the people before fame and allegiance to the Court. General Sir Fairfax is married to a wealthy woman, beautiful high-born Lady Anne (Olivia Williams). Because of their close relationship, it has been wondered at times if Cromwell had a homoerotic love for General Sir Fairfax. The most intriguing character in my mind is Lord General Fairfax and he came to be beloved by his countrymen during a time of great upheaval. With the collapse of the Royalist cause came a confused period of negotiations between the Parliament and the king, between the king and the Scots, and between the Presbyterians and the Independents in and out of Parliament. In these negotiations the New Model Army soon began to take a most active part. The lord general was placed in the unpleasant position of intermediary between his own officers and Parliament. It was at this time that Lord General Fairfax came into his own and his prominence was supreme.
This film has a history in keeping with the turbulence of this era- the film was twice bankrupt and film and crew were not paid at times. Sets were left as they were and the film moved on when money was available. It is a good sign that this film was released at all.
"To Kill a King looks very good, with a fine, if simple, rendering of period sets and costumes. The script does a good job of keeping all the elements together, though much of it is exposition, bits of history for the uninformed." Henry Fast
Recommended. prisrob 02-28-08
Rating: - A nice costume drama
To Kill a King is beautifully filmed, and looks very realistic. This may be a bit of a negative right at the beginning, since it opens with the near-obligatory scene of horrific gore. I assume that this is to reassure guys who are afraid that they have been dragooned into watching a chick flick.
This is no chick flick, but neither is it all about the gore. The film follows the rise and fall of Oliver Cromwell, including the death of King Charles, with a focus on the friendship of Cromwell and General Thomas Fairfax.
I think that it might be difficult to follow, for those who are not familiar with England's Civil War (which is probably most of us here in the U.S.), but the relationships and viewpoints are presented with a surprising level of compassion for the various points of view. A number of questions about power, rights, freedom, ethics, and priorities arise in thought-provoking fashion, though they flash quickly by in the course of the action. It may be that there is a shorthand going on for the intended British audience, who were presumed to be up on all the relevant issues, but it started some interesting conversations among my family.
In historical movies that focus on war and power, women are often obviously only in the frame to act as scenery, but that is not the case here. Olivia Williams as the wife of Thomas Fairfax is a real person with her own concerns.
The music is not memorable, but I think that most watchers will enjoy this film. We'll watch it again.
Rating: - Quite Good Although Historically Somewhat Simplistic
I was expecting this not to be a very good movie given the fact that I had never heard of it and that a quick search to find out why revealed extensive financial problems with the movie's completion. It is, however, quite a good historical drama with an emphasis, as other reviewers have noted, on the political side rather than the military. This tends to work to the film's advantage as it gives the filmmakers plenty of time to let us get into the lives and the heads of Oliver Cromwell, who was the head of the New Model Army and the parliamentary party that was in opposition to the oppressive rule of King Charles I of England, and more particularly to Lord Thomas Fairfax, who was the general of the New Model Army and, according to this film, a very close friend of Oliver Cromwell. The film compresses the time periods known as the First Civil War and the Second Civil War, focusing instead on the political battle between Parliament and the King and, ultimately, between Cromwell and Fairfax, a battle that Fairfax lost when Cromwell persuaded Parliament to execute the King without trial.
The direction and performances are good almost across-the-board, but what takes the movie down to four stars for me is the depiction of Oliver Cromwell. Tim Roth does everything but twirl his mustache, playing Cromwell as a sort of Stuart-era Snidely Whiplash. Since Roth is a superb actor, I have to assume that this is how Cromwell was written, or perhaps how Roth was directed. The movie is supposed to be about the friendship between Cromwell and Fairfax but we never really see this, at least not until the very end of the film. You would never know from this movie that Cromwell himself was an excellent military commander or that what appeared to motivate him more than a sense of justice for all English men or a sense of outrage over the abuses of King Charles was his Puritan religion. It's very difficult to get a sense of why men followed him and why, in particular Lord Fairfax loved him as much as we are told he did. Cromwell as presented here never smiles, is tyrannical, and from the get-go appears worse than anything we've heard about the King. There is very little evidence of the meaningful relationship between Fairfax and Cromwell that the filmmakers say they intended. I kept wondering what it is that kept the two men bonded once the war was over. It's not an easy thing to figure out, but it is to the credit of these two fine actors that they eventually make you believe it, at least a little.
Rupert Everett, who had so much evident fun playing Charles II in Stage Beauty, gets the opportunity to shine a little more subtly as Charles I's crown and life were taken from him. He is every inch a king who believes he owes his crown to God's grace and to divine right. There is no common ground between his view and that of Cromwell so King Charles has to die.
We all know the excesses Cromwell comitted as Lord protector of England so I would very much have liked to see more of the man, the one ordinary Englanders would follow into battle and risk abandoning their king for. You can talk all you want in the movie about how much Cromwell's men love him, but we never really see it. We just see a monster who at the end, makes a few good speeches.
Production values are good, costumes are excellent and tech credits definately fine overall. Bonus features are nearly non-existent. A trailer and a "behind-the-scenes" type ad that is short and just a little informative for those who haven't seen the movie. The rest of the bonuses are a trailer for To Kill a King and three other movies (like Beowulf). Nothing to get excited about. A pretty good effort on the movie, but you'll probably have more questions than you started with. Although if it inspires you to seek out the answers, I guess it's done its job. Well worth a couple hours of your time.
Rating: - Solid Historical Drama
If you're expecting stirring battle scenes of the English Civil War here, you will be woefully disappointed. Apparently budget troubles plagued this independent production, and director Barker had to rely more on the interpersonal drama than spectacle. That said, this is a solid period drama with excellent performances throughout. The story revolves around the friendship, and later rift, between Lord General Thomas Fairfax and his trusted colleague Oliver Cromwell, as they fought to depose King Charles I and bring a more egalitarian government to England. However, Fairfax gradually discovers that Cromwell intends to try and execute the king, and to bring about change in a more radical and brutal manner. Then there is the moderating influence of Fairfax's beloved wife Anne, who is still sympathetic to the king. The chemistry and conflict between the two men as they begin to separate philosophically and politically is what really drives this film. The performances are strong: the always-intense Tim Roth is a passionate and volatile Cromwell, while Dougray Scott is stolid and conflicted as Fairfax, Olivia Williams is luminous as Lady Anne, and Rupert Everett is properly arrogant and indignant as the captive King Charles. If you're a fan of British historical drama, you will find this a satisfying film.
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