Mr. Jones

Name: Mr. Jones
Genre: Biography, Drama, Thriller
Released: June 19, 2020
Duration: 141 min
Rating: 68
Cast: Beata Poźniak, Celyn Jones, Fenella Woolgar, James Norton, John Edmondson

2020

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 19 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 27 Ratings

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7.4

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7.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 27 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Samuel Goldwyn Films | Release Date (Streaming): June 19, 2020 | Not Rated

Starring: Beata Poźniak, Celyn Jones, Fenella Woolgar, James Norton, John Edmondson, Joseph Mawle, Julian Lewis Jones, Kenneth Cranham, Krzysztof Pieczynski, Martin Bishop, Michalina Olszanska, Peter Sarsgaard, Vanessa Kirby

Summary: Agnieszka Holland’s thriller, set on the eve of WWII, sees Hitler’s rise to power and Stalin’s Soviet propaganda machine pushing their “utopia” to the Western world. Meanwhile an ambitious young journalist, Gareth Jones (James Norton) travels to Moscow to uncover the truth behind the propaganda, but then gets a tip that could expose anAgnieszka Holland’s thriller, set on the eve of WWII, sees Hitler’s rise to power and Stalin’s Soviet propaganda machine pushing their “utopia” to the Western world. Meanwhile an ambitious young journalist, Gareth Jones (James Norton) travels to Moscow to uncover the truth behind the propaganda, but then gets a tip that could expose an international conspiracy, one that could cost him and his informant their lives. Jones goes on a life-or-death journey to uncover the truth behind the façade that would later inspire George Orwell’s seminal book Animal Farm. [Samuel Goldwyn Films]… Expand

Director: Agnieszka Holland

Genre(s): Biography, Drama, Thriller

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 141 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Pat Brown

Jun 16, 2020

The film is an unnervingly beautiful tribute to the lives lost during the Holodomor, and to the people who have seen the world for what it is, instead of the dream of it they’re instructed to believe. Read full review

Wendy Ide

A subplot about George Orwell is perhaps surplus to requirements, but otherwise the film is a striking, efficient political thriller. Read full review

Manohla Dargis

Jun 18, 2020

More than anything, Mr. Jones is an argument for witnessing and remembrance. Read full review

Guy Lodge

Feb 15, 2019

As drama, Mr. Jones sometimes struggles to get out of its own way, but its message still lands with concrete force. Read full review

Steve Pond

Jun 17, 2020

At times, Mr. Jones has the gravity and grace to remind us of what an accomplished chronicler of 20th-century horror Agnieszka Holland can be. And at times, it goes off track in ways that sadly undercut both the gravity and the grace. Read full review

The Telegraph Tim Robey

Jun 18, 2020

There’s enough in Mr Jones to make you want a good deal more. Read full review

IndieWire David Ehrlich

Feb 14, 2019

Mr. Jones is stymied by the clarity of its hero’s crusade. Exasperatingly scattershot for most of its long running time, this restless and misshapen film suggests its director’s nagging discomfort with a straightforward history lesson. Read full review

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User Reviews

Dstue32

Apr 11, 2021

Great movie!!! I’m so glad the Holodomor is finally getting some attention. The movie was shot beautifully and there was great story telling. You will not be let down

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

KingKoopa11

Dec 12, 2020

This was a very interesting movie and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It made me read up on the real life characters and it is a very important movie with the state of the world today.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

KenR

Nov 15, 2022

Mr Jones – An Idealist Tells Us Much about Holodomor

This intriguing and well-cast film tells a timely story of the long-term historical conflict within the Ukraine/Russian tragedy. Highly suspect involvement by members of the international press (working within the USSR, England, USA, andMr Jones – An Idealist Tells Us Much about Holodomor

This intriguing and well-cast film tells a timely story of the long-term historical conflict within the Ukraine/Russian tragedy. Highly suspect involvement by members of the international press (working within the USSR, England, USA, and Wales) is stripped bare - offering closer examination of the role played by members of international war correspondence staff. It carefully details their shady involvements in perpetuating communist propaganda – performed either in exchange for protecting their sleazy sexual activities or for financial reward – if not actually for both. A professionally made film dealing with several contentious political situations, which all deserve re-examination and more thorough investigation. Polish-born director Agnieszka Holland (Europa Europa ’90) brings Andrea Chalupa’s searching script to life with all its important facts and possible new insights. Together they highlight the decadence of the era - exposing varied degrees of immorality perpetuating among 1930s Political and so-called ‘high society’ circles. Being closely examined, is the Stalin regime’s 5-year development plan that shockingly starved millions of inhabitants in local villages --effecting mass genocide-- and how this was assisted to be hidden by certain self-serving (dishonest) international factions. This work deserves to be seen as one of only a few, that cast an important spotlight on shameful acts against humanity, in the name of Communism. It also gives new understanding of why today’s Ukraine won’t submit to any form of Russian rule.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

IRSnoopy

Jul 16, 2020

Speaks real truth to what actually happened, and the corruption in the media and people in general. This movie could still be still applicable to today in many ways.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

DawdlingPoet

Jan 4, 2022

This is an atmospheric and sobering watch - a glimpse into what life was like for people in the USSR at the time. Its a thoughtful watch - a chilling depiction of the harm in turning a blind eye or ignoring what those in power do. It features someone reading a particularly poignant quoteThis is an atmospheric and sobering watch - a glimpse into what life was like for people in the USSR at the time. Its a thoughtful watch - a chilling depiction of the harm in turning a blind eye or ignoring what those in power do. It features someone reading a particularly poignant quote from George Orwell's 'Animal Farm'. The fact some British people seemingly glossed over the realities they didn't entirely like, made me cringe a bit, its fair to say. I also thought James Norton gave a good performance.

A thoughtful watch indeed, this is a film I'd recommend, yes.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

henryzandt

Jul 7, 2020

Agnieszka Holland is a gifted director. Expect another very atmospheric film, with beautiful camera work. Even more important: a convincing film that shows the importance of good journalism and how we should always be aware of political propaganda.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Mauro_Lanari

Aug 23, 2021

(Mauro Lanari)
Almost 90 years later, Agnieszka Holland recalls one of Stalin's many massacres: the Holodomor, the extermination by starvation (famine) of about 4 million Ukrainians perpetrated between 1932 and 1933. The episode does not add much to the atrocities of the last century and the(Mauro Lanari)
Almost 90 years later, Agnieszka Holland recalls one of Stalin's many massacres: the Holodomor, the extermination by starvation (famine) of about 4 million Ukrainians perpetrated between 1932 and 1933. The episode does not add much to the atrocities of the last century and the bungled directorial style, flat and refined at the wrong moments, does not help. Almost 90 years later, Agnieszka Holland recalls one of Stalin's many massacres: the Holodomor, the extermination by starvation (famine) of about 4 million Ukrainians perpetrated between 1932 and 1933. The episode does not add much to the atrocities of the last century and the bungled directorial style, flat and refined at the wrong moments, does not help. The ideological and propagandistic corruption of the press (today: of the media)? On that plane the protagonist had not only met Hitler but also Goebbels.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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