Wednesday, June 19, 2024
Firebrand
Katherine Parr (Alicia Vikander) was the sixth & last wife of King Henry VIII (Jude Law). She was reluctant to consent to the marriage due to the fate of Henry’s previous wives: vanquished, beheaded, or dead. She was a strong, intelligent, & passionate woman who pushed for a new future based on her radical Protestant beliefs. There were questions raised about her fidelity which turned the paranoid king against her. Vikander & Law were terrific, but story felt muddled as it played out. Maybe it was me & I️ couldn't get into it. Maybe it was the old English dialog. It felt slow & dragging. I️ did enjoy the costumes & the details of everyday royal life during those times. If anything, the film prodded my curiosity about these 2 lead characters & the factualness of this film’s recount of history.
Alien gives it 2 “leg wound” stars out of 4.
