Review of Becket (1964) by Leighton T — 10 Aug 2011
The stately quality of the overall production hinders this film. It takes almost all of the chewy fire out of what is imbued by both O'Toole and Burton in every one of their scenes. One is loud, O'Toole's Henry, the other is quiet, Burton's Becket.
They play off each other like a pitcher and batter playing cat and mouse going for that same victory. It is these two at the top of their collective games that makes the film worth the watch of a slightly obscure film from yesteryear.
Granted, it is a form of stylized movie making, almost epic in its own right, which is not readily seen today and thus a bit hard to take in its collective full. These kind like Becket and The Lion in Winter fail to register on an entertainment register and really only seek aesthetic fulfillment.
In that right they are very good. And Burton and O'Toole deliver that in full here.
This review of Becket (1964) was written by Leighton T on 10 Aug 2011.
Becket has generally received very positive reviews.
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