Review of A Man for All Seasons (1966) by Manny O — 05 Aug 2009

A solid, dialogue-driven period piece detailing Sir Thomas More and his clashing with the other figures of the British royalty over King Henry's desire to divorce and remarry. Paul Scofield won a well-deserved Oscar for his role as More, a figure who whether or not is to be agreed for his stance is heroic in his determination to stick to his religious convictions and never compromise.

If you don't like a film that is primarily composed of talking, this film isn't for you, but be warned you are missing out. This is a showcase for great British performance, and also represents a prominent moment in the history of England.

Despite these elements composing the bulk of the film, Zinnemann still proves he is a skilled director, as the cinematography is beautiful and the color is more striking than I expected from a film from 1966.

Something about it feels very fresh, but not so fresh that the period setting doesn't feel unauthentic. The film still works 40 years later, which is reason enough to warrant merit, but it is also a terrific religious film for the those of the faith, as it doesn't feel preachy but echoes a powerful message.