A Man For All Seasons (1966) Review

 Title: A Man For All Seasons
Year: 1966
Director: Fred Zinnemann
Country: UK
Language: English

A Man For All Seasons  won six Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor (Paul Scofield). It's a dialogue heavy, well made film about one's moral conviction in the face of political turmoil. Based on a true story, the film's principle lessons are as relevant now (see: Kaepernick taking a knee) as they were when the film came out. 

This is the story of Sir Thomas More (Peter Scofield) , who stood up to King Henry VIII (Robert Shaw) when the King rejected the Roman Catholic Church to obtain a divorce and remarry.

"When a man takes an oath," Sir Thomas explains to his daughter Margaret in a crucial scene, "he’s holding his own self in his hands. Like water." The film is full of poetic dialogue, which helps craft the time period and give us well rounded characters. 

A Man For All Seasons also has an excellent score, remarkable set design and glorious costuming. The cinematography and art direction capture the opulence of the Tudor period. The grandeur onscreen is admirable; it's a rich film that deserves to be admired by generations to come. 

The film's incredible attention to detail absorbs the viewer into a bygone era. A Man for All Seasons is a beautiful counter-culture anti-establishment film that will surpass your expectations.