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      To Kill a King

      2003 1 hr. 42 min. History Drama List
      60% 5 Reviews Tomatometer 50% 500+ Ratings Audience Score As the English Civil War ends during the mid 17th century, Oliver Cromwell (Tim Roth) begins seizing power along with his leader, Gen. Thomas Fairfax (Dougray Scott). The dethroned British king, Charles I (Rupert Everett), is held captive while Cromwell, Fairfax and their allies decide his fate. Although Charles attempts to win Fairfax's wife, Lady Anne (Olivia Williams), over to his side, and the ruler still has many loyalists, Cromwell is determined to see the king go to trial. Read More Read Less

      Audience Reviews

      View All (101) audience reviews
      Christina B Even Tim Roth couldn't quite save this underwhelming historical look at a brutal part of English history (and his Oliver Cromwell had a tiny smidgen of Mr Burns in his otherwise credible take on him as a bloodthirsty dictator). Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/08/23 Full Review isla s This is a fairly good film - not entirely memorable or special as such but an ok film. There is a good cast and the story is pretty interesting but thats about all I can say about it really. I wouldn't go too far out of your way to see this. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review johann m A recounting of the relationship between General Fairfax and Oliver Cromwell, as they try to cope with the consequences of deposing King Charles I of England, the only king that was executed. It was an interesting film, although there is little action but it is well acted and Thomas Fairfax is a very sympathetic character. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review richard d The sets and the acting are good, but the plot is rather complex. Difficult to put this political drama together. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member The historical inaccuracies in this film are astounding. Ann De Vere's father had died well before she married Sir Thomas Fairfax. Their daughter Moll was born before the Civil War commenced. Prisoners on either side were not manacled as show in this film. Sir Thomas Fairfax had no dealings with the king or parliament - he was a solider not a politician. This film gives the impression that Fairfax and Cromwell had been friends for years and had planned the overthrow of the king way back when, when it actually fact the two men met for the first time in October, 1643. Fairfax was a monarchist whose sole aim was to see the king's power and authority curtailed and not to see the king or the monarchy done away with. As for Fairfax trying to assassinate Cromwell is purely artistic licence as this was not true. I read a review on another website about a teacher purchasing this video to show his or her students as they were studying the Civil War. I can only say that I am astonished at this because no one is going to learn anything about the Civil War from this movie. Watch the film as a movie and not as a piece of historical fact and you will enjoy it. I think. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/05/23 Full Review Audience Member Directed by Mike Barker (Best Laid Plans (1999) and Butterfly on a Wheel (2007)), this historical drama had a nightmarish production, it started life as Cromwell and Fairfax, to have starred Jude Law and Ewan McGregor in 2000. Then the funding fell through, they started again with a different cast, the funding fell through again during filming, then FilmFour went under. Despite all this, it's a lavish film, even if it is a little cliched. Set in 1648, towards the end of the English Civil War, Sir Thomas Fairfax (Dougray Scott) is leading a crusade against the Royalist Cavaliers, with his fellow commander, Oliver Cromwell (Tim Roth). They discover a lot of betrayal and skulduggery within Parliament, there are those who have allegiances to the King, Charles I (Rupert Everett), who is under house arrest. Charles tries to get Fairfax's wife Lady Anne (Olivia Williams) to convince her husband and Cromwell to spare him, but Cromwell's mind is made up, and tensions between him and Fairfax grow, as Cromwell starts to abuse his power. It's a good period drama, but it might have been better suited to TV, but Roth and Scott make good leads, with Everett perfectly cast as the foppish king Charles. Evidence of the cost-cutting the went on during it's troubled production does show in some places, but it's a good thing they got it finished. It's a shame that hardly anyone went to see it, but there doesn't seem to be that much call for costume dramas these days, unless it's fantasy based. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/05/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Critics Reviews

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      Barbara Ellen Times (UK) To Kill a King is no Man for All Seasons, that poem to destiny and betrayal, but it exudes intelligent energy. What emerges is a dark, noisy history lesson viewed through the filter of a power struggle that spirals out of control. Jan 2, 2018 Full Review Alexander Walker London Evening Standard Scrupulous period accuracy is not expected from this genre. Even so, Jenny Mayhew's screenplay is preposterously reductive. It boils history down to a platonic love affair between Fairfax and Cromwell. The incidents she invents are badly dramatised. Jun 18, 2003 Full Review Empire Magazine Rated: 3/5 Jun 18, 2003 Full Review Jennie Kermode Eye for Film Rated: 2.5/5 Dec 7, 2007 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis As the English Civil War ends during the mid 17th century, Oliver Cromwell (Tim Roth) begins seizing power along with his leader, Gen. Thomas Fairfax (Dougray Scott). The dethroned British king, Charles I (Rupert Everett), is held captive while Cromwell, Fairfax and their allies decide his fate. Although Charles attempts to win Fairfax's wife, Lady Anne (Olivia Williams), over to his side, and the ruler still has many loyalists, Cromwell is determined to see the king go to trial.
      Director
      Mike Barker
      Executive Producer
      Scott Karol, Christopher Petzel, Rudolf G. Wiesmeier, Tom Parkhouse, Paul Webster, Peter Watson
      Screenwriter
      Jenny Mayhew
      Genre
      History, Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (DVD)
      Feb 26, 2008
      Sound Mix
      Surround