A One Mann’s Movies review of “The Lost King” (2022).
“The Lost King” is based on the true story of one woman’s personal quest to discover the burial place of the disgraced and discredited British King, Richard III, who died on the battlefield of Bosworth field in 1485. Although based on real events, the movie’s fictional elements have upset some of the real people involved, painting Leicester University in a particularly poor light.
But, as for “The Woman King“, I will park the controversy and focus on the film itself. And I really thought that was excellent. It’s one of the most engaging films I’ve seen this year. Like “The Phantom of the Open” (also featuring Sally Hawkins!) this quirky British film is almost certain of a place in my Top 10 for 2022.
I saw this as a part of a #CineworldUnlimited preview, with the film due to open in UK cinemas on October 7th 2022.
Bob the Movie Man Rating(s):
Plot Summary:
Philippa Langley (Sally Hawkins) is an Edinburgh office worker suffering from ME. A visit to a local theatre with her son to see Shakespeare’s play of Richard III triggers an almost compulsive addiction to finding out more about the king, and specifically where he is buried.
Certification:
Talent:
Starring: Sally Hawkins, Steve Coogan, Mark Addy, Harry Lloyd, James Fleet, Lee Ingleby.
Directed by: Stephen Frears.
Written by: Steve Coogan & Jeff Pope.
Twitter Handles: #TheLostKingUK.
“The Lost King” Review:
Positives:
- Sally Hawkins is simply extraordinary in the lead performance. It’s a nuanced and intelligent portrayal of a character that many might take against if portrayed by anyone else (she does after all put her own and her kid’s future at distinct risk). It’s also fabulous to publicise the disabling and often misunderstood condition of ME to a broad audience (something I have experience of through a relative). Hawkins has been a “bridesmaid” at both the BAFTAs and the Oscars (for Best Supporting Actress in “Blue Jasmine” and Best Actress in “The Shape of Water“). As Philippa, this is an Oscar-worthy performance. But this might be too ‘small’ a film to get that sort of recognition. But it would be a crime if she was overlooked for the BAFTAs.
- The movie script is nicely quirky, featuring the (very real) visitations of King Richard (Harry Lloyd) to encourage and steer Philippa in the right direction.
- Above all, this is a really feel-good movie. A true life story of extraordinary discovery that deserves to be retold on the big screen. At a run-time of 108 minutes, veteran director Stephen Frears (“Victoria and Abdul“, “Florence Foster Jenkins“, “The Queen” and part of the same team here that delivered “Philomena“) keeps the action moving at a pleasant pace such that I was never bored. None of it feels in need of a tighter edit.
Negatives
- The trailer! If you can avoid the trailer, please do. It gives far too much of the plot away.
- The character of Richard Taylor (played by Lee Ingleby) can probably feel justifiably maligned as the university administrator. I think the script rather over-painted him by about 10% as the boo-hiss villain in the side-lining of Philippa’s contribution.
- Coogan’s accent. For most of the time he is being Steve Coogan. But once or twice (a drop-off at an Edinburgh train station is a specific case in point) it seems that he suddenly remembers he is supposed to be Scottish! It’s not as heinous a crime as Robert Downey Jnr in “Dolittle” or Russell Crowe in “Robin Hood”. But it is a bit weird!
- I’d have liked the end-titles, as is common in these films, to feature some shots of the real dig and the real characters involved. I suppose the film-makers burned so many bridges with the university personalities that they didn’t get permission for this! By the way, this is the real-life Philippa Langley…
Summary Thoughts on “The Lost King”:
A cracking little British film that gets a very strong recommendation from me.
Trailer:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bgv6KHeAFeY . This comes with a strong warning to AVOID it! See the trailer and you barely need to see the film!
