Mr Burton

As a film and theatre lover I would never miss a biopic about a famous actor, and so I knew I would enjoy Mr. Burton. But it turned out that the best thing about the film for me was the story of Mr. Philip Burton, the teacher, not so much the story of Richard Burton, the famous actor. Philip Burton wrote a book about his memories of Richard Jenkins (as he then was) and the narrative seems to be largely true, though fudged here and there. There is much to admire about Mr. Burton's teaching methods, and even more to admire about Toby Jones' acting which was completely flawless. Lesley Manville as the housekeeper was also excellent, though we didn't see much of her. Harry Lawtey was less successful as Richard Burton, perhaps because the script required him to change too rapidly from a quiet schoolboy to a rebellious and difficult adult. The first part of the film was somewhat slow and the use of AI technology to provide supposed landscapes of Welsh countryside really grated on me, but the interiors were effective.

If for no other reason this film is worth watching for the performance of Toby Jones as Philip Burton. The teacher who started Richard Burton on his way to super stardom.

It is touching and moving to see the faith that the teacher had in Richard Burton that he would make good as an actor.

The whole cast is excellent particularly the two actors playing Burton as a schoolboy and then as an actor in his twenties at the beginning of his metioric rise to startdom. Burtins overindulgence in alcohol, probably inherited from his father hinting at the problems that would confront him in later life and lead to his early death.

This deserves to be seen by more than the small cinema attendance.

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.

I didn't know what I was expecting from this film, but It is absolutely superb.

At first I wasn't sure that Harry Lawtey as Burton had the presence needed for such a huge role, by then end I was wondering if he may well win an Oscar for his performance.

Also starring Toby Jones and Lesley Manville, two of the finest actors around and both as excellent as expected, although Manville slightly underused in my opinion.

Rounding out a superb cast are Anuerin Barnard and Aimee-Ffion Edwards again both excellent.

Knowing the story of old It's a true life feel good movie showing how having belief in someone with no agenda pays off handsomely and is very inspiring.

The scenes in Taibach, Port Talbot and surrounding areas are fascinating to see how they've caught that moment in time with the steelworks spewing out the pollution that so blighted the landscape.

The best film i've seen in a long time and is a must see.

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

It's very much my sort of film, and knowing Burton's story reasonably well, it was fascinating to see how they chose to bring it to the big screen. Without drifting into sentimentality, it's genuinely heartwarming - uplifting and quietly emotional. A young Burton had everything stacked against him: a troubled father, poverty, and at times even the country itself, yet somehow he pushed through it all.

It's a beautifully crafted film. It looks terrific, from the sets to the period details, and the CGI version of Port Talbot is impressively polished - though there were moments where I half-expected a bread-wielding cyclist to wobble through the scene, as if we'd slipped into an advert about wholesome Welsh mornings.

The score is soothing, almost deceptively so. You could easily imagine it accompanying a Hovis-style montage, but it fits the story well, softening the harsher edges without ever drowning them out.

Toby Jones and Lesley Manville do exactly what you'd hope - dependable, grounded, and quietly commanding. Harry Lawtey, who I know well from the excellent BBC series Industry, turns in a very fine performance, carrying the weight of the role without overplaying it.

It's the first cinema trip in a long while that's actually made me want to order the Blu-ray afterwards.

8/10.