Review of Burton and Taylor (2013) by Kyle B — 01 Jan 2014

"Burton and Taylor" is a drama fixed on the last year of the famous Richard Burton's life and his last encounters with his ex-wife, the very famous Elizabeth Taylor. The story is starting when Burton and Taylor will both participate the the theatrical play of Private Lives. This TV movie is mostly centered on Burton's as a central character and his depiction of Taylor's extravagance/love.

I really liked this TV movie, I felt it really well written, with a very experienced set of actors/actresses and it really cleverly depict two very famous personalities, their love, their fear, their regrets, their fame. Helena Bonham Carter was absolutely shining as Elizabeth Taylor, even if she doesn't really look like Taylor; Dominic West was also very good as Richard Burton, depicting him as a rather proud and yet sensitive man. I also loved that the direction avoided tons of flashbacks and instead just reinforcing only on a bit of a timeline in their life.

The TV movie might be sometimes slow paced but it is so smartly developing the characters, that I believed it was the best way to do it.