Firebrand
Katherine Parr, the sixth wife of King Henry VIII, is named regent while the tyrant battles abroad. When the king returns, increasingly ill and paranoid, Katherine finds herself fighting for her own survival.
- Released:
- Runtime: 120 minutes
- Genre: Drama, History
- Stars: Eddie Marsan, Erin Doherty, Bryony Hannah, Jude Law, Simon Russell Beale, Ruby Bentall, Patsy Ferran, Alicia Vikander, Junia Rees, Maia Jemmett, David Vickers, Ashleigh Reynolds, Callum Sked, Julian Clapton, Mina Andala, Dan Fallon, Paul Tinto, Joseph Aston Grant, Sam Riley, Mark de Freitas
- Director: Karim Aïnouz
Comments
- dlmiley - 17 June 2024
Wait for cable or Netflix
The film is directed by Brazilian director Karim Aïnouz with beautiful cinematography by Hélène Louvart (especially in the countryside). Jude Law, who, as noted in IMDB, wore a scent that smelled like "blood, fecal matter, and sweat" while performing his role (as well as makeup and fat suit) is excellent. He is the highlight and when he appears the film comes to life. But much of the film is mostly a slog with Vikander's character endlessly talking and maneuvering Henry's privy council to her wishes. A brief encounter with Parr's friend Anne Askew (Erin Doherty) is also interesting but too brief to add much to the story. Finally, the plays with the historical record, also apparently in an attempt to add more the to the story, but that occurs much too late to really enhance the film. Therefore, I cannot really recommend this film to theater goers; if you are curious, I would wait until Netflix or cable as this film is likely to leave theaters quickly. 5/10.
