Tolkien

Name: Tolkien
Genre: Biography, Drama, War
Released: May 10, 2019
Duration: 112 min
Rating: 48
Cast: Al Bollands, Anthony Boyle, Colm Meaney, Craig Roberts, Derek Jacobi

2019

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 37 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 59 Ratings

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5.6

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5.6	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 59 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Fox Searchlight Pictures | Release Date: May 10, 2019 | PG-13

Starring: Al Bollands, Anthony Boyle, Colm Meaney, Craig Roberts, Derek Jacobi, Genevieve O'Reilly, Guillermo Bedward, Harry Gilby, Kallum Tolkien, Laura Donnelly, Lily Collins, Mimi Keene, Nicholas Hoult, Pam Ferris, Patrick Gibson, Ty Tennant

Summary: Tolkien explores the formative years of the orphaned author as he finds friendship, love and artistic inspiration among a group of fellow outcasts at school.

Director: Dome Karukoski

Genre(s): Biography, Drama, War

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 112 min

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Critic Reviews

Chris Nashawaty

May 3, 2019

Hoult brings a quiet, romantic intensity to the young Tolkien (pronounced ‘Tolkeen’, who knew?), Lily Collins does a lot with a little as his first love Edith, and the Hobbit horde will gobble up all of the easter-egg references peppered throughout the movie. Read full review

Josh Kupecki

May 8, 2019

The performances are wonderful, especially Hoult and Collins, who exude a charming chemistry, and fans of both the books and the films will find pleasure in this look at the early life of the man whose work still influences artists to this day. Read full review

Ty Burr

May 8, 2019

Tolkien gives us the passing of a vanished England and the loss of a generation but not quite enough about what was won, by him for us, nor the mystery of how he won it. Read full review

IndieWire David Ehrlich

May 3, 2019

While it still dilutes Tolkien’s memory by molding his life to the narrow dimensions of a middle-brow feature that’s too safe for the arthouse and too small for the multiplex, at least it does so in a sincere attempt to trace the etymology of Tolkien’s work, and to emphasize that where stories come from can be as meaningful as where they take us. Read full review

Glenn Kenny

May 9, 2019

Tolkien manages several scenes of credible emotional delicacy. Read full review

Sara Stewart

May 7, 2019

Would it have been tacky to visually play up the connection between Tolkien’s harrowing experiences on the WWI battlefield and his depiction of Mordor in the books? Perhaps. Beyond the briefest of allusions, Karukoski tastefully leaves that to the imagination. But this — like much of the film — is a tastefulness that induces sleepiness. Tolkien’s estate was not supportive of this film, understandably: The legendary author’s work is memorial enough. Read full review

Matt Singer

May 9, 2019

None of the life we see J.R.R. Tolkien live in the film illuminates his great works of art — or even makes for a particularly compelling tale. Read full review

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User Reviews

Gojira54

Nov 4, 2020

A very moving representation of Tolkiens life and the events that led him to write his epic tales.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

HizerggHuzer

Jun 20, 2020

a very good and absolutely underestimated film, at the end I was struck by a tear

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

KaraBlankenberg

Aug 5, 2019

Tolkien was an absolutely touching film, a cinematographic piece of art, and featured superb acting, camera work, and sound track. Though the story itself is relatively slow moving, the outstanding use of special effects and somewhat episodic story line keeps the energy and tension high, andTolkien was an absolutely touching film, a cinematographic piece of art, and featured superb acting, camera work, and sound track. Though the story itself is relatively slow moving, the outstanding use of special effects and somewhat episodic story line keeps the energy and tension high, and creates a truly moving film. The portrayal of friendship and brotherhood is soul shaking, and moved me and two of my close friends to tears. Tolkien truly is one of the greatest writers the world has ever known and ‘Tolkien’ provides a small glimpse inside his genius mind and provides insight into his life and influences surrounding his iconic works. However, this movie is not just great for fans of Tolkien, but to anyone who can appreciate the genius of story telling that is this film. Everyone should watch Tolkien. A definite must see. 9/10… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

Wheretty

Jun 3, 2019

The movie could have used more money spent on it. There was a weird mix between indie-like cinematography and expensive cgi war scenes. Because of this, one was left wondering whether it's a blockbuster or an indie movie. Solid story though and both educational and entertaining.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

JoeCool

Jul 19, 2020

A quite nice, though often boring, sometimes puzzling, sometimes touching biopic on the life of J.R.R. Tolkien. It's decent in both quality and acting but there's nothing really there to make it actally worth seeing.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

vonkoutso

Aug 15, 2019

A mediocre film at best. But that doesn't bother me. What really bothers me is that it was a film about the early years of Tolkien, the impact that the war had on his life and his writings, and yet SOMEHOW, one third of the movie was dedicated to telling the tale of a gay childhood friend ofA mediocre film at best. But that doesn't bother me. What really bothers me is that it was a film about the early years of Tolkien, the impact that the war had on his life and his writings, and yet SOMEHOW, one third of the movie was dedicated to telling the tale of a gay childhood friend of the main character. Why? Because in modern day Hollywood movies, creators sadly sacrifice the quality of their work on the altar of political correctness. Such a shame...… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

DropDeadFred

Jul 22, 2019

When the book was inspired by God and the fact that He was super religious but it never came up once in this movie is why it's Hollywood garbage.

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

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