Amazon.co.uk Review
Based on the acclaimed play of the same name,
The History Boys is a faithful, intelligent piece of cinema, even if it is a little reluctant to stray from its theatrical roots.
Penned by Alan Bennett and set in 1982 Yorkshire, The History Boys follows a group of ‘A’ Level students as they’re schooled through their attempts to get into Oxbridge. Under the tutelage of Richard Griffiths’ liberal Hector and Campbell Moore’s Irwin, there’s plenty here to admire. Firstly, the script crackles along, with snappy dialogue and characters well worthy of your interest. Secondly, the performances from the predominantly young cast are well worthy of note. And then there’s the deft directorial touch of Nicholas Hytner (The Madness Of King George, The Crucible), all of which lifts The History Boys into a film of real merit.
There are questions to be asked over whether you’re expected to sympathise with one or two characters in the film, of course, and there’s the aforementioned issue that it’s far too faithful to the source play (which results in an overlong running time). But ultimately, The History Boys is a witty, challenging and testing film, whose qualities outweigh its problems. --Jon Foster
Synopsis
A group of history pupils at a boys’ grammar school in Sheffield pursue a place at Oxford or Cambridge, where they are subjected to contrasting styles of teaching. Adapted from Alan Bennett’s (THE MADNESS OF KING GEORGE) immensely successful play of the same name, THE HISTORY BOYS focuses on the experiences of eight history students at a grammar school in northern England in the mid 1980s as they attempt to get a place at the top two universities in the country; Oxford and Cambridge. The headmaster of the school is keen to send as many of his pupils to Oxbridge as possible and employs supply teacher Irwin (Stephen Campbell Moore, BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS) to teach them the tricks of trade concerning how to get into Oxford or Cambridge. This style of teaching is contrasted sharply with that of the boys’ eccentric and maverick English teacher Hector (Richard Griffiths, WITHNAIL AND I) and the facts and figures based teaching style of their history teacher Mrs Linnott (Frances De La Tour, HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE). THE HISTORY BOYS primarily focuses on the state of the education system in the 1980s and what the teenage boys learn about life, love and education along the way and succeeds in being a hugely entertaining film about growing up and the different approaches to life one can take.
![The History Boys [DVD] [2006]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51rpo6BkzCL._SL75_SS50_.jpg)
![Starter For 10 [DVD] [2006]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51TLs558DfL._SL75_SS50_.jpg)
![Scenes Of A Sexual Nature [DVD] [2006]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/619Oj52wXqL._SL75_SS50_.jpg)
![Inside I'm Dancing [DVD] [2004]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/512qOMprJqL._SL75_SS50_.jpg)
by Alan Bennett
![Starter For 10 [DVD] [2006]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51TLs558DfL._SL500_SS90_.jpg)
DVD ~ James McAvoy
![Notes On A Scandal [DVD] [2007]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51BOBWN357L._SL500_SS90_.jpg)
DVD ~ Cate Blanchett
![The Last King Of Scotland [DVD] [2006]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51AoUfSqaCL._SL500_SS90_.jpg)
DVD ~ James McAvoy
![Dead Poets Society [DVD] [1989]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5122CPQ04EL._SL500_SS90_.jpg)
DVD ~ Robin Williams
