Becket (re-release)

Name: Becket (re-release)
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Released: January 26, 2007
Duration: 148 min
Rating: 68
Cast: John Gielgud, Peter O'Toole, Richard Burton

2007

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 10 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 25 Ratings

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7.4

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7.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 25 Ratings

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Becket

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Movie Details & Credits

Paramount Pictures | Release Date: January 26, 2007 | Not Rated

Starring: John Gielgud, Peter O'Toole, Richard Burton

Summary: Nominated for twelve Academy Awards, this 1964 film is an historical costume drama of the grandest order. Becket is the true story of the friendship between King Henry II (O'Toole) and Thomas à Becket (Burton), a royal courtier and confidant whom Henry appoints as Archbishop of Canterbury. This stunning new 35mm color & Scope print wasNominated for twelve Academy Awards, this 1964 film is an historical costume drama of the grandest order. Becket is the true story of the friendship between King Henry II (O'Toole) and Thomas à Becket (Burton), a royal courtier and confidant whom Henry appoints as Archbishop of Canterbury. This stunning new 35mm color & Scope print was restored by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences, with funding from Martin Scorsese's Film Foundation. (Slowhand Cinema Releasing)… Expand

Director: Peter Glenville

Genre(s): Biography, Drama, History

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 148 min

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Critic Reviews

Kenneth Turan

While major stars thrust together on screen often end up undercutting each other, one of the pleasures of Becket is how easily and generously these two commanding actors play off each other, each allowing the other the space to make the most of their individual roles. Read full review

M. E. Russell

O'Toole just keeps turning up the volume, and it's thrilling to watch. Read full review

Peter Rainer

Burton is extraordinary in one of his rare good movie roles and O'Toole is regally madcap and larger than life. No doubt his Oscar-nominated appearance in "Venus" has prompted this rerelease of Becket. They make a fascinating then-and-now combination. Read full review

Michael Wilmington

Becket, now richly restored, is one of those '60s British theatrical spectaculars that we always imagine as a bit better than they were. Read full review

Ella Taylor

There's much to be said for a film that, however cheesily realized, sticks in memory for four decades. Read full review

Mark Feeney

The one thing going for Becket is actually two things: Burton and O'Toole. Read full review

Ed Gonzalez

Dully overcomposed, the film evinces a Disneyed sense of palace life and reaches a laughable apotheosis when Henry and Becket's rendezvous on a beach is staged as a reunion between scorned lovers. In 1964, the film's innuendo might have seemed daring; today it's close to ridiculous. Read full review

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User Reviews

MarkJ

Feb 13, 2007

Splendid. Whether Glenville was the best director for this project (and it does have some stunning cinematic work, regardless of what some critics are saying) is difficult to know at this point. This is, after all, a play transferred to the screen, with certain limitations intact. Gonzalez Splendid. Whether Glenville was the best director for this project (and it does have some stunning cinematic work, regardless of what some critics are saying) is difficult to know at this point. This is, after all, a play transferred to the screen, with certain limitations intact. Gonzalez may not care much for the scene on the beach and may express concerns for what modern audiences take from it. However, I would like to think that modern audiences would learn a little about what wonderful writing and superb classical acting sounds and looks like. The trash that is made these days, particularly the pitiful excuse for epic films (Yes, I include Gladiator in this), should be compared to this literate, sweeping film. Dull in parts but intelligent throughout, it was made with TLC and commitment, unlike the computer graphic, mindless goop spilled onto the screen by our so-called film geniuses of today. Come to think of it, if I had my choice between Glenville and the dull witted directors we have to deal with these days, I would pick Glenville any day.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

singer

Jan 27, 2007

This movie is a treasure for the acting, and for the epic collision of mutual love and respect between two volatile and powerful men on the one hand, and political expediency dedicated to empowering state clashing with principles devoted to empowering church on the other. Burton's This movie is a treasure for the acting, and for the epic collision of mutual love and respect between two volatile and powerful men on the one hand, and political expediency dedicated to empowering state clashing with principles devoted to empowering church on the other. Burton's Becket is consumately worthy of a king's love and respect. O'Toole's portrait of a man (King Henry II ) more or less selling his soul or betraying heart-felt inner truths for the sake of power is devastating and strikes grief in the heart of the viewer. This is a timeless story well told, and the Village Voice review is unworthy.… Expand

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Hughie

Jan 26, 2007

Who is Ed Gonzalez and WHY is he writing film criticism. Embarrassing! This is a great film that holds up very well after 40 years. Great script, great performances and great looking.

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JohnP.

Feb 5, 2007

Exceptional film - no wonder it was nominated for 12 Academy Awards.

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svperstar6

Feb 12, 2016

This piece must be one of the oldest bromance stories, despite the term hasn't been created at that time. The acting is great most of the time and do not bore you; it is an important fact for a drama over 2 hours. It has the charm of epic movies before CGI that you know everyone you see isThis piece must be one of the oldest bromance stories, despite the term hasn't been created at that time. The acting is great most of the time and do not bore you; it is an important fact for a drama over 2 hours. It has the charm of epic movies before CGI that you know everyone you see is really there and every stage has been built. There is also the difficulties in adapting a theatrical play to screen which deserves respect in my opinion. But this could be the strongest and the weakest point of this movie. Although it is 148 minutes long it always seems like you get a grip about what's happening but cannot take the whole feeling and more importantly there gaps in the time line you should fill yourself. On the other hand the story always keeps you watching as you keep wondering what happens next if you don't know the story. So it's an epic movie for people like good stories but seriously not for the ones who want to see epicness backed by green screen. On a personal note, I like to see every character in a film to speak it's native language, so it is a problem for me but I know that was an era everyone speaks English with an accent which gives away it's nationality in movies.… Expand

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imthenoob

Mar 6, 2019

Burton and O'Toole are brilliant actors who truly make this film worth watching. Their characters start off as best of friends but their friendship slowly deteriorates as politics drives a wedge between the two. It's great and a really underappreciated gem.

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Compi24

Apr 13, 2017

This is a clear exercise in why historical films shouldn't be treated as just history lessons. It managed to take a fairly worthy premise and bludgeon it to near death with an overall lack of urgency or stakes, an unbearable reliance on lengthy passages of circular dialogue, and a permeatingThis is a clear exercise in why historical films shouldn't be treated as just history lessons. It managed to take a fairly worthy premise and bludgeon it to near death with an overall lack of urgency or stakes, an unbearable reliance on lengthy passages of circular dialogue, and a permeating feeling of disinterest exuded by nearly every cast member other than Peter O'Toole. And, try as he may to inject this thing with as much scenery-munching vim and vigor as he can, it all really matters naught in the end.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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