Director: Michael Radford
Writer: Michael Radford (Screenplay) George Orwell (Novel)
Starring: John Hurt, Richard Burton, Suzanna Hamilton, Cyril Cusack, Gregor Fisher, James Walker, Andrew Wilde
Plot: George Orwell’s novel of a totalitarian future society in which a man whose daily work is rewriting history tries to rebel by falling in love.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Bleak Futures All Around
Story: Nineteen Eighty-Four starts in the dystopia world where Winton Smith (Hurt) is part of the Big Brother world the human race now lives in, they are routine in every part of the day being watched over by O’Brien (Burton) the savior of their kind.
Winston is tired of the way of life and could easily be considered a ‘Thought Criminal’. Once he meets Julia (Hamilton) he starts having a romance which is highly against anything allowed within the city. As their romance because more about having a chance to show their feelings the world around them starts to go into a new war against anyone going against their beliefs which makes them both targets.
Nineteen Eighty-Four brings us into bleak futures which is an element of sci-fi that everyone loves, it shows how the world could look under one big brother. We do get to see slowly one person trying to change but we also get to see the consequences of it all. I do like how this story is all about dealing with a future we are not being told time the truth and are left be almost being sheep forcing to them to believe.
Actor Review
John Hurt: Winston Smith is our leading man who is slowly starting to want to feel and think on his own, which is a crime in this world. When he keeps taking continuing to think he becomes an enemy having to be forced to go through re-habitation to prove he can return back. John gives one of his best performance of his career here.
Richard Burton: O’Brien is the man that has to control and test the members of the society. He gets to push the people as far as he wants which leads to him to clash with Winston. Richard is great in this performance throughout.
Suzanna Hamilton: Julia is the romantic and fellow free thinking with Winston as they end up having to have a whirlwind romance but only when they are available to have free time. Suzanna gives a good performance in this role.
Support Cast: Nineteen Eighty-Four has a supporting cast all in the world but they all seem in line, we don’t really meet too many of them as we focus on the main three.
Director Review: Michael Radford – Michael gives us a brilliant directed movie that keeps us interested in the bleak world our characters in.
Romance: Nineteen Eighty-Four gives us a forbidden romance angle which works nicely.
Sci-Fi: Nineteen Eighty-Four enters us into a dystopia world of a future we could one day face.
Thriller: Nineteen Eighty-Four does keep you wondering but not at the edge of your seat.
Settings: Nineteen Eighty-Four has a dark world for our film to take place where we see everything happen in.
Special Effects: Nineteen Eighty-Four uses the effects for certain parts but only when needed.
Suggestion: Nineteen Eighty-Four is one that should have been watch at least once by all to see how these dystopia world films work. (Watch)
Best Part: Future world.
Worst Part: Slightly to bleak though.
Believability: No
Chances of Tears: No
Chances of Sequel: No
Post Credits Scene: No
Oscar Chances:
Box Office: $8.4 Million
Budget: £3 Million
Runtime: 1 Hour 53 Minutes
Tagline: 2+2=5
Overall: Brilliantly dark bleak dystopia film that still stands the test of time.
Rating
