Review of Benediction (2022) by N8Cv1996 — 08 Jun 2022

I would like to give it a 6 — but only for these four reasons: I lack the historic appreciation for British cultural pleasantries; I never knew the poet Siegfried Sassoon before this movie; I do not personally relate with the struggle of homosexuality (while I can appreciate the struggle of it); and I’m not accustomed to frequent, long, “static shot” scenes [meaning the camera doesn’t move]. Analyzing the movie beyond my lens, I give the movie a 74/100. Read on to learn why [with no spoilers in my review].

The script oscillated from an 8-9 to a 5-6 — a mix of occasional great intellectual poetry and dialogue, to casual and ordinary dialogue that was acted well, but very ordinary. I would say the script consisted of more ordinary script than I liked, but the smart and charming parts of the script + a beer in my hand kept me in the theater. The acting was well done and suited the situations, save for a few instances; overall I give the acting an 8-9.

The movie did a fine job conveying the life and struggles of Siegfried Sassoon in both realistic and artistic fashions. There are lessons in the movie that I think everyone can learn from. The artistic portrayal of war was abstract in its attempt, but fairly basic in its execution; its execution was that of a novice filmmaker.

Overall, if I were a British grandma or an elderly gay man who saw this movie pop up on TV, on BBC, I would watch this movie in full without any problem. Maybe this movie would appeal more to mid-life and young gay folks than mid-life and young heterosexuals, though the younger audience might overall opt for other cinema. Lastly, one doesn’t have to be British to like the movie but it probably helps.