A judge must decide whether a teenage Jehovah’s Witness should have a blood transfusion, going against his religious beliefs.
Certificate
Duration105 mins
Review by
“The Children Act” is an engaging drama that features some great performances and complex themes, however it didn’t leave any lasting impression on me. It’s yet another film that earned a resounding “er, it’s fine”; even though the first half was good, the second half peters out and plods along before ending in a semi-satisfying fashion.
The cast were definitely the highlight of “The Children Act.” Emma Thompson, Stanley Tucci and Fionn Whitehead played their characters excellently, each actor brought something unique to the film.
The script raised several thought-provoking moral dilemmas that gave “The Children Act” it’s most electrifying scenes.
The cinematography is pleasant to look at; at least “The Children Act” doesn’t resemble a wall of dull-grey cement.
I don’t really have any major problems with “The Children Act.” I was irritated that the trial (which is the major event in the story), ends about halfway through the film, meaning that the movie meanders about for a while before it ends.
Overall, “The Children Act” is totally acceptable. There are some good sides to it, but it’s also boring at times and very forgettable. This is one of those movies that are almost impossible to review as my thoughts on it basically boil down to “this bit’s alright, that’s quite good but this part is bad.” I would probably recommend it because of its fantastic performances, but it’s not the sort of film you should rush out and see.