...imagine a boot stamping on the human face forever." So says Burton's last acting creation; his sublime, sinister, arch even, rendition of Orwell's O'Brien, tormentor-in-chief of Hurt's beautifully pathetic Winston Smith.
O'Brien is right of course. 1984 is pessimism personified; every shred of hope for Winston is not just taken away, but cruelly didn't exist in the first place. His frail humanity is pulled out of him just like his rotten teeth and in the end he doesn't exist just like O'Brien said he didn't.
1984 seems always current, always relevant no matter when read or watched. The film was released at the zenith of the nuclear arms. Thatcher had been re-elected on the back of the victory in the Falklands and continued her ruthless purge of the unions and the industrial heartlands to drag Britain into the modern age. She didn't slaughter millions like Stalin in his 5 year plans but the desolation she left felt like murder to the communities affected. O'Brien then in this instance could be Norman Tebbit, bullying, brow-beating, and cajoling other members of the Tories to bend to the will of the 'Iron Lady.'
Or if seen today 1984 is our 'surveillance society.' It is I.D. cards, the War on Terror, extraordinary rendition, CCTV, knife crime and hoodies. Big Brother is the 'Nanny State,' the not so New Labour ideal that has drained the country of any moral responsibility. Newspeak and doublethink is text messaging and spin and O'Brien would be Alastair Campbell and his ilk.
But the essential message is never lost; 'power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.' Quite chilling and quite brilliant.

Okay so 1984 has been and gone and we didn't end up like that, but that doesn't take anything away from this very gritty and grim portrayal of George Orwell's famous novel. The destruction and bombed out streets of London, the poverty and the debauchery are all excellent realised. Hurt gives an excellent performance as the hero Smith as he struggles to fight against a system that is just too big for him to be able to beat. All praise must go to Burton in his last film performance for such an understated and sinister portrayal of O'Brien. Never raising his voice but captivating with his performance throughout. A fantastic end to a distinguished career.