What do I say about a movie like this? I feel like I shouldn't be allowed to watch them, because I'm about 70% incapable of liking them. Slow, consistently paced, grim in plot. Watching Paul Scofield's performance (which, despite what I'm about to say, I thought was really powerful and great) was painful. He has a completely blank affect the WHOLE movie. In these small play-like movies (of course, this one IS a play), it's difficult to notice anything but the plot and characters. The characters and plot were both interesting, but I already knew the bulk of this story.
Maybe I should talk positives. The screenplay was really flawless. I wish I had taken notes, so I could give examples, but it was teeming with subtle moments of great character development and plot progression. The acting was awesome. As I said, I loved/hated Paul Scofield. Other notables included the crazy Robert Shaw as Henry VIII and Leo McKern as the endlessly evil Thomas Cromwell (side note: though I know it's a different Cromwell, I couldn't help getting the Pyrates Royale's version of Young Ned of the Hill in my head any time his name was mentioned). It's just that slow Renaissance-era period films are not usually my thing. 7/10
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Disagree about Scofield's performance. A Man for all Seasons is like a souffle, the slightest whiff of self-righteousness or self congratulation on More's part and the whole thing collapses. Scofield had to be restrained because he constantly ran the danger of jumping the shark. Also, as a ten year old, I was deeply impressed by Thomas More's getting taller and handsomer and more vocally awesome after he quit his job.
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