To Kill A King DVD Review:

The civil war has ended and King Charles I (Everett) was under house arrest as Parliament debated on how the country should be governed. Oliver Cromwell (Roth) wanted England to be a republic but his strongest alley Thomas Fairfax (Scott) had his reservations. The only way for a republic to exist was for parliament to take an unprecedented action, they would have to execute the King.

One of the most fascinating periods of English history is brought to the screen proving again that British cinema is the best when it comes to producing historical drama.

Director Mike Barker forgoes staging the two civil wars that sandwich the events of the movie and concentrates on the trail and execution of Charles I. This is the story of four interconnected people and how the dramatic events affected a friendship, a marriage and the question of loyalty.

The events take a terrible toll on the marriage of Thomas and Anne Fairfax, played brilliantly by Dougray Scott and Olivia Williams. A close personal friend of the King, Anne is torn between duty to her sovereign and loyalty to her husband. Thomas is pulled between his country and the beliefs of his wife.

King Charles I as the rightful sovereign of the country he thinks the law and his subject’s answer only to him. Raising taxes and revelling in his own grandeur, he couldn’t understand why the people who rise up against a man ordained by God to be their King. Rupert Everett plays the role superbly proving that he has a gift for the dramatic.

The driving force behind the film however, is the relationship between Oliver Cromwell and Thomas Fairfax. These two closest of friends are torn apart by duty and ambition. Where Fairfax wants the King to be the head of state and nothing more with all the power reverting to Parliament, Cromwell wants to remove the monarch from power completely and make England a republic. This means King Charles I will have to be executed. Tim Roth is outstanding as Cromwell, capturing the passion and drive of the man who tied to change England forever. It is the riveting dynamic between Roth and Dougray Scott that makes these two characters and the historical events that unfold before you so captivating.

Director Mike Barker and his crew do an exemplary job at recreating the era with a limited budget. This is one of the genres, which the British film industry does really well and To Kill a King is no exception. This is a fascinating insight into one of the most pivotal moments in English history which is made all the more watchable by some truly outstanding performances, making this a history lesson on the silver screen.

Star Rating = * * * *

PICTURE & SOUND

Presented in 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen with a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, the transfer is very good, as you’d expect from a modern movie. The picture quality helps capture the grandeur and spectacle of the period and is crystal clear throughout. The sound is also good as it emphasises the dialogue and comes alive during the crowd scenes of the execution.

BONUS FEATURES

Featurette (5.36 mins)

Director Mike Barker, producer Kevin Loader and stars Dougray Scott, Tim Roth, Olivia Williams and Rupert Everett talk about the making of “To Kill a King”. They discuss the historical accuracy of the piece and how each of the cast members sees their characters.

Cast & Crew Interviews (24.26 mins)

Dougray Scott, Tim Roth, Olivia Williams and Rupert Everett talk individually about their characters and making the movie. Scott talks passionately about the project and Thomas Fairfax himself. He also talks about the man’s relationship with his wife and Oliver Cromwell. Tim Roth does the same, trying to understand Cromwell’s passion for his country and his friend. Olivia Williams and Rupert Everett both talk about their characters, with Everett revealing how he pushed for the trail scene to be included. Director Mike Barker and producer Kevin Loader discuss how they got the movie made.

Behind the Scenes (6.53 mins)

B-Roll footage of the trial, Fairfax and Cromwell, the aftermath of the battle and King Charles I execution.

Trailer (1.49 mins)

Your chance to watch the theatrical trailer for the movie.

OVERALL

The film is presented extremely well even though the extras might be a little lacking. While the featurette is far too short with not enough information or behind the scenes footage, the cast and crew interviews make up for its shortcomings. The bonus features would have been greatly enhanced by the inclusion of a commentary track.

DVD Star Rating = * * *

Jamie Kelwick

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