247. Tolkien; movie review

TOLKIEN
Cert 12A
111 mins
BBFC advice: Contains moderate war violence

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien may have been one of the finest storytellers in British literature but does that mean his own story is particularly fascinating?
On the basis of Dome Karukoski's movie, the answer would be apparently not.
Even the scenes in the trenches of the Somme, where the writer served during the First World War, fail to ignite a disappointing biopic.
Karukowki attempts to show how the imagination of his subject was sparked at school in Birmingham and at Oxford.
But, although, he did face the adversity of losing both parents while young, his youth does not make for a particularly exceptional story.
Nicholas Hoult plays the title character during his time as a student and soldier, more than two decades before he published The Hobbit.
He was sent to live and study in Birmingham under the guardianship of a priest (Colm Meaney) shortly before the death of his mother.
There he formed a secret society with three classmates and their friendship became a bond which could be only be broken by a devastating war.
Meanwhile, he also fell for Edith Bratt (Lily Collins) and their on-off courtship is the movie's backbone.
As a period drama, Tolkien hits the mark - its attention to detail in costume and customs evokes the atmosphere of the day.
It also gives a very brief flavour of the chaos of the frontline and the fall-out of war.
But does it give an insight into what comes from the future pen of J.R.R. Tolkien?
I didn't really think so - sure, Emily is represented in his works and there were flirtations with fantasy but nothing much more.
Maybe keener Tolkien fans will have appreciated depths to the film which I didn't experience.
Indeed, in common with most authors, I found Tolkien's life wasn't nearly as interesting as the subjects of his books.

Reasons to watch: If you an avid, and I mean avid Tolkien fan
Reasons to avoid: Doesn't grab enough

Laughs: None
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 5/10

Did you know? Tolkien was a language genius. He learned Latin, French, and German from his mother, and while at school he learned Middle English, Old English, Finnish, Gothic, Greek, Italian, Old Norse, Spanish, Welsh, and Medieval Welsh.

The final word. Dome Karukoski: "For me, it’s important that I show as a Tolkien fan how a young genius’ mind grows."

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