1984 (Nineteen Eighty Four)

John Hurt's best performance in a feature film. Genuinely moving, depressing and unnerving, in the way the book should make anyone, without a yearning for shiny black boots and unquestionable order, feel.

Film Version of Eric Arthur Blair (better known as George Orwell) book of the same name. This film is about a vision of Britains future in which is controlled by a Government that outlaws feelings like Love & Hate, Introduces Sex Crimes. Great Storyline, Performance & Creativity. The true meaning of the term Big Brother.

Having heard so much about this book I decided to check it out and it was well worth it. A rollercoaster ride all the way through and its so well written I could picture the whole book right the way through. You should definitely get this book if you haven't already!

This film is based on George Orwells' terrifying book of the same name and stars John Hurt.Hurt plays Winston Smith,a mild mannered writer in a department rewriting history in a Eutopian Great Britain.Richard Burton also stars in what would prove to be his last film role and he gives one last great performance in this well made fantastic film.

...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.