Longford

The relationship of saint to sinner has seldom been so moving. [26 Feb 2007, p.39]

Disturbing, sober and flawless.

This effort is blessed with a wealth of exceptional talent.

In lesser hands, Longford might have come off as dogmatic or, worse, pathetic. Broadbent endows him with a cocktail of emotions that makes Longford simultaneously heroic and vulnerable. It is a performance that will likely not be forgotten later this year when Emmy nominations are announced.

It's Broadbent as Longford, made an outcast for his empathy, whom you'll not forget.

I said this is an old-school literary movie because it is a gallery of objective portraits, leaving the viewer to absorb narrative while pondering various parallels and themes.

Longford is never less than gripping. But it unconsciously apes the moral myopia that afflicts its protagonist.