Churchill: Hollywood Yrs - Dvd [2004]

 

 

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Frankly, I am mystified by the rancor this movie has generated! I have to admit that I was somewhat sceptical when I first heard of this film. But now that I own it, I will recommend it to all and sundry. It's a hilarious send-up of Hollywood's quasi-Roman tendency to rewrite history however they see fit and steal everyone else's best gods and heroes and to make them all born in the U.S. of A., while making all of the villains English. The glaring anachronisms, the stupid historical rewrites, the blatantly jingoistic viewpoint -- in effect, the Hollywoodization -- of the Churchill story make this a very good comedy for those who are familiar with (and sick of) the Lowest Common Denominator Hollywoodized Pseudo-Historical Action BioPic genre. It's mostly Mel Gibson's fault.

History buffs, war-film buffs, and anyone who remembers World War II from firsthand experience will get the most laugh value out of it, though anyone with an anti-Hollywood leaning (which, considering the way we're portrayed, should rightfully be about 99.97% of all English people) should find it funny as well. I thought there were a couple of moments of Doubled-Over-With-Pain-And-Lack-Of-Breath Laughter, but for the most part, I found myself in a fairly steady Hearty Chuckle Mode, with the occasional spike of the odd Spirited Guffaw. I've never been a HUGE fan of either Christian Slater or Neve Campbell (I enjoyed their performances in the movies of theirs that I've seen, but most of the films they're in simply aren't the kind of films I usually watch anyway), but they are both excellent in this movie . . . as are the entire rest of the impressive and talented cast.

I have just two criticisms for the DVD itself. Firstly, there were no credits for the deleted and alternate scenes, and at the very least, Ronni Ancona as The High-Powered Female Producer deserves to be mentioned, as does the actor playing her PA. And since he doesn't get a credit, I couldn't tell you who he is. Secondly, what credits appear at the end of the film say "Filmed on location in The Isle of Man," while there is only a passing mention of a Devon Location Manager earlier in the credits. I must point out that the other non-IOM locations get short shrift in the credits themselves, though most (but not all) are mentioned in the commentary track. The only location I noticed that got NO mention at all was the village of Cockington, from where Lt. Churchill phones Buckingham Palace to talk to a drugged Princess Elizabeth. Be sure to locate the Easter Egg on the second screen of Bonus Features: from the top menu choice, press "left" and you will see a white Churchill V-Sign flare up, the selection of which takes you to Vic Reeves' Naughty Art Show.

Judging by the other reviews, this movie does not seem to be to everyone's taste. But I certainly enjoyed it, and I sincerely believe that others will, too. The only reason I didn't give it a full five stars was because of the snub the Devon locations got. I recommend renting this DVD first to see if you like it, then buying it if you do.

Fun and this-time-actually-true historical facts up with which to wrap: Despite what the film says, Sir Winston Churchill was actually only HALF-American. His mother, Jennie, was a New Yorker credited with inventing the cocktail known as the Manhattan. Also, Oldway Mansion, with its many stairways and gigantic Napoleonic painting that appear throughout the film, was bought and renovated by the American Singer family, of sewing machine fame.

It is Miranda Richardson herself, in an interview about this film, who postulated that it was a cross between Mel Brooks and an Ealing comedy. And to some extent she is right. It's not as bad as some of the critics have described, but you must remember also that, as Ben Walters wrote in the 'Sight & Sound' magazine review, this is meant to be a bad film.

It does have a number of funny moments and characters - Miranda herself as a bored Eva Braun, Anthony Sher as a socially-uncomfortable Hitler, Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer as camp royal servants, and Harry Enfield as a parsimonious and small-minded George VI. And if you buy it cheap, you cannot complain about wasting money.

The extras are quite worthless, though, even the commentary by Christian Slater and Peter Richardson. But at least you learn therein that the movie was not filmed mainly in the Isle of Man as the credits state (something to do with funding by the Isle's film company perchance?), but was actually shot mostly in Devon - Brixham, Buckfastleigh (Dart Valley Railway), Dartmouth, Paignton, Plymouth & Powderham.

So long as you watch this film in the spirit in which it was made, you won't be disappointed. It kept us entertained for an hour and a half, and will do so again.

I think a lot of the reviewers of this film have completely missed the point. This is a surrealist, bizarre comedy that was in no way meant to be taken literally or to re-write history. I think the film-makers had enough respect for the intelligence of the viewing public to believe that they would take the film for what it was and not misinterpret the intentions of the movie and take offence! I find it insulting that so many reviewers make the point about this film being historically inaccurate and replacing the hero with an American for some other reason other than to take the mickey out of stereotypical American sensitivities whereby they like to believe that they were actually responsible for all the great achievements of history! This film is doing exactly the opposite of what it is these people are objecting to!

Also I haven't checked this out, but I seem to remember when the film came out it was promoted as a British made film, Christian Slater was on Jonathon Ross's show and that's certainly the impression I got. If this is the case then it more than proves my point about the intentions of the movie.

Anyway, all in all it is a hilariously silly film, really daft and unbelievable storyline and outrageously over the top characters - anyone with a sense of humour should be able to suspend their disbelief for 90 minutes and just enjoy it for the glorious farce that it is!

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5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious
Very very funny film, if your a member of the P.C. Brigade you probably shouldnt watch this. Anyone else should really buy it. Read more

Published 12 months ago by rabbitt-k

3.0 out of 5 stars churchill the hollywood years
This is the type of movie I should hate but why it had me in fits of laughter throughout is a puzzlement. Read more

Published 15 months ago by Edward Ashmore

3.0 out of 5 stars Laughed so hard I suffered hysterical blindness...
This joyous romp pokes fun at the royals and the Hollywood tendency to re-jig history for the multiplex mob, sexing it up with a swaggering die-hard, top-gun Winston Churchill... Read more

Published 17 months ago by PhilsterNo1

1.0 out of 5 stars NOT their finest hour, avoid at all costs
Imagine if you gave a group of 6th formers a big pile of money, then asked them to write a script. Then imagine that you threw that script away and had it rewritten by some... Read more

Published 17 months ago by E. Granter

1.0 out of 5 stars What were they thinking?
This disc is the first evidence I have encountered of a parallel universe that seems to be even dumber than the one we inhabit.

Published 23 months ago by Ludwig

5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious
I never thought I would enjoy this film at all. In fact I laughed from beginning to end. The characters are so entertaining - especially Harry Enfield's King George V1. Read more

Published on 10 Jun 2009 by Mrs. S. Cartlidge

1.0 out of 5 stars garbage
Dismally bad offering from the comic strip team. Over the years their output has been variable in quality- for every 'Five Go mad in Dorset' or 'GLC' there has been a 'Mr Jolly'... Read more

Published on 30 July 2007 by H. L. Williams

2.0 out of 5 stars For Amercians good.. for Brits Bad
The film is based on the idea that Winston Churchill was really an Amercian GI (Christian Slater) who had a relationship with Princess Elizabeth (Neve Campbell). Read more

Published on 23 July 2006 by Mr. D. J. Parkhouse

1.0 out of 5 stars My first review.
I have been a customer with amazon for a number of years now and I have parted with a lot of cash on cd's and dvd's and it's sad that the only time I really feel the need to write... Read more

Published on 29 Jun 2006 by JEJ Winder

1.0 out of 5 stars so disappointing
This film is awful. I was really looking forward to it and even went to the cinema to see it but a mix up meant we ended up seeing 'The Forgotten' instead - God was smiling that... Read more

Published on 2 May 2006 by M. O. HAYNES

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