First off, it’s clear that between this and The Lion in Winter, Peter O’Toole tears acting’s shit UP when he plays Henry II. He is so good. Burton’s good here too, and the story is fascinating; one of the most memorable and classic feuds in all of history. That said, this movie does it justice until a disappointing 3rd act: the plot slows, the writing gets too hasty. And King Louis VII of France and Pope Alexander III are practically mere stereotypes of the French and Italians, respectively. A big let-down for me.
SIDENOTE: Many of you know, and I’ve mentioned before, that I’ve been working on a project based on the life of Eleanor of Aquitaine (Henry II’s wife and queen). Whilst Hepburn’s portrayal of her in “The Lion in Winter” is jaw-droppingly good, the Eleanor here is weak and whiny and wussy and timid. I found my loyalties to the fair Duchess of Aquitaine boiling up, “That’s not the way she was, dammit! She was powerful!!!!” Ah well.
