Mr Burton

The incredible story of how Rich Jenkins, a young man from a poor family in Port Talbot became a multi award winning Hollywood star.

It's fair to say this is my kind of film, but knowing Burton's story pretty well, it was interesting to see how they decided to translate it onto the big screen.

Without sounding sentimental, it's a lovely, heartwarming movie, it's uplifting and emotional, a young Burton seemed to have everything against him, his troubled father, poverty, even the country itself, but somehow he overcome the odds.

It is beautifully made, it looks terrific, the sets and clothes look terrific, they did their best with the CGI.

Toby Jones and Lesley Manville do what they do best, they deliver, I know Harry Lawtey well from the wonderful BBC series Industry, I thought he did a very fine job.

The first cinema film I've seen for some time that's made me want to order the blu ray.

8/10.

Despite being a bit lop-sided, this is still quite a poignant story of the young Richard Jenkins (Harry Lawtey) who has been living with his elder sister and her husband since his mother died whilst he was an infant. His dad (Steffan Rhodri) worked hard down the mines then boozed hard afterwards, and so the young lad was largely neglected by him as he grew to curious manhood. He was interested at school, liked to read and sing and play rugby - and that attracted the attention of his teacher Burton (Toby Jones). He was a scholarly man, but a frustrated Thesp, who had lodged for many a year with the widowed "Ma" (Lesley Manville) and wrote scripts for BBC Radio. It was this latter man's determination to get his young protégé to focus, knuckle down and learn how to say "here" properly that serves as the thrust of the plot here and allows both Jones and the impressive Lawtey to give us not just an illustration of Burton's conflict and potential, but also a glimpse into just how valued education was at a time when families lived on the poverty line and working at the pit from an early age was a necessity that made schooling a luxury. It takes a few liberties with the facts of their relationship and sows some suggestive seeds about what might have driven both men, but for the most part it's an interesting character study of a troubled man who quite possibly didn't know how to be loved. The conclusion is all a bit rushed, we do jump ahead quite substantially in the last ten minutes and those missing years do rather leave a gap in his transition from geeky student to Stratford celebrity, but with a generous contribution from Manville to help guide us through this turbulent period for him, his teacher and his country this is at the better end of television biopics, and with Lawtey acting rather than trying to mimic the original, is worth a watch.

Mr. Burton is a beautifully crafted film that lingers long after the credits roll. Anchored by a standout performance from its lead, the story weaves heart, humor, and a quiet intensity into a truly unforgettable experience. The direction is assured, allowing small moments to breathe while never losing narrative momentum. Every frame feels intentional, with gorgeous cinematography and a haunting score that elevates the emotional depth. Mr. Burton is that rare kind of film-intimate yet expansive, personal yet universally resonant. It's a moving, masterfully told story that deserves to be seen, felt, and celebrated.

We did not know what to expect with this film. We watched it in a little cinema in South Wales to set the scene.

The casting was spot on. Lesley Toby and Harry are superb, there is no over acting, everyone's accents are just right.

The directing and atmosphere is all you ever want. Such a lovely experience. Would honestly have been a score of 10/10 if the distant scenery and Port Talbot cgi was of a much higher standard. But all in all a very big Thank You.

Did I say Lesley Toby and Harry are superb, no over acting, accents are just right. The directing and atmosphere is all you ever want. Such a lovely experience. Would have been 10/10 if scenery and Port Talbot cgi was a higher standard. But Thank You.

Mr. Burton quite simply is a biopic of the early life of Richard Jenkins, later to become Richard Burton as the film goes at great lengths to explain.

The cast are excellent be it Toby Jones as English teacher/thespian Philip Burton who becomes a guiding light to son of a (drunk) Welsh miner Dic Jenkins.

However the best performance is from young actor Harry Lawtey who plays the Richard Jenkins cum Burton role. From a raw poor Welsh schoolboy he becomes one of the biggest actors in the world and this film shows how Mr. Philip Burton moulded him to do so. Not just in name but Anglicizing his diction to become the great orator he is remembered for being.

Toby Jones is a mainstay of British cinema and television and his portrayal is non-scandalous when surely some tongues wagged at his close relationship with Richard Jenkins.

British, low budget but intriguing indeed. I have watched Burton's filmography vehemently over several months and now after watching this film I may explore some Burton biographies in book form. This film is definitely better than even I expected.