Benediction

This is a very thoughtful film. Its a film that brings the saying 'the pen is mightier than the sword' to mind. Its a sobering watch, due to what happens but its not an action packed or thrilling watch in terms of the plot pace. If anything, it may be thought of by some as frustratingly slow but I think thats sort of the point - showing what Sassoon went through when back in England, trying to put his point across to people who didn't want to listen, questioning the point in continuing the war.

Expertly made. Would not have complained if the film had been a bit shorter but the strong acting makes it worth seeing.

Despite some issues with pacing and direction, the film is a poignant and introspective exploration of the life of poet Siegfried Sassoon, with a standout performance by Jack Lowden in the lead role, and a beautifully written script that delves into themes of loss, isolation, and the tormented emotional state that artistry can express.

There are times when this Terence Davies film feels a little commonplace and little more than a dramatize History Channel biopic, but when the performances really breathe life into the dialogue, the film is excellent and really does a lot to uncover a lesser known story of WWII. A little long in the tooth, but the superb acting and dialogue saves it in the end.

Incoherent shape and moments of soulful beauty and sadness. With plenty of witty repartee, both the funny and the dead serious kind. Another 'noble failure' by Davies.

Another Davies' film embedded in pure poetry. Certainly not an easy watch right from the beginning, but a film totally devoted to the words written and spoken and how they shaped the everyday life of this poet and soldier.

Great performances (especially from Lowden), and a good script carry this. The pacing is deliberately slow at times, and Davies’ direction isn’t particularly interesting, although I suppose that fits with the film. I would’ve ranked this higher if the love interests were more interesting/likable and if the ending didn’t drag on as much. It has some good moments in the early-middle portion of the film, but it’s a bit inconsistent. Not for casual filmgoers, but for those who enjoy slower films.

Quiet and catty and fancy. Appreciated as a gateway to post-WWI literary and LGBTQ+ history I did not know.

Though it’s rarely a good idea for a biopic to cover so much terrain, Benediction collapses time with associative flashbacks and flash-forwards, and Davies’ gift for dramatic tableaux has the effect of crystalizing the scenes in Sassoon’s life that Davies wants to emphasize. There’s not much connective tissue between periods, either, which spares us the “and-then-this-happened” qualities of more conventional, Wiki-fied portraiture.