Curapedi I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

Rio Hayward All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Adeel Hail Unshakable, witty and deeply felt, the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long, long time.

Mathilde the Guild Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

Vonia Becket (1964) 7/10 Was pleasantly surprised by this lesser known biographical fiction. Synopsis made it seem extremely boring. Procrastinated on seeing it, regret that now. At 2.5 hours, it is noteworthy that I felt like it ended too soon. Obvious that Peter O'Toole started in theater, he overacts, his voice level is a tad higher than all the other characters, and it seems like he is yelling all the time. Not sure I liked that; this is not to say his performance was necessarily inferior, but that it was better suited for the stage. Director did take liberties with historical facts, the most prominent one being that Becket was not even a Saxon, but a Norman. This was actually quite a significant detail in the film, referenced more than once. The writer of the play that this film is based on did figure that out, but decided to leave it in because it made for a better story. Well, of course it does, but it also makes for a more historically inaccurate one. This is regrettable, for I feel as if it could have been as good with the facts accurate. Two phenomenal actors. Two phenomenal characters. They do not try to outshine each other, but Richard Burton easily wins this one. A man at first uncertain and then a little ambiguous with his loyalties, with a tendency to convince everyone, himself included, that he does not care about anyone or anything. His acting was such that I could see him as an ideal King. The supporting performances were all on point, although I do wish there was some more character exploration and explanation on various relationships that were merely touched upon, such as Henry & his mother Matilda, Henry & his wife Eleanor, Henry & his son Henry III, Becket & Lady Gwendolen, whom he obviously has feelings for. The relationship between King Henry II & Becket is mostly seen as platonic, but Henry does use the word "love" a few times. Because of censors at the time of the filming (homosexuality was still illegal), little more was shown. This is a disappointment. "Yes, I loved him. And I still do... I am as useless as a woman. So long as he is alive I tremble, I shake. I am the king, yet I shake. Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest?... My heart!" #FilmReview

Ian (Flash Review)This film showcases the battle of King vs Church with King Henry II back in the 1100's. Henry is at odds with the church who refuses to contribute to his war fund and he is unsettled by their tax-free status. He has a very loyal friend, Becket, who he strategically appoints as an Archbishop to maneuver his viewpoints inside the church. He had not planned on Becket, who is a very honorable man, to take his new role and title as Archbishop extremely seriously. Thus, he and Becket are at odds as he sides with the Church, rather than his close friend the King. Much of the film are sharp linguistic interactions that are more or less soliloquies as the O'Toole and Burton orate with power. The screenplay writers must have had a great time flexing their muscles as well. Will Henry persuade or outfox Becket to drive his agenda or will his impulsive emotions get the better of him? This film has the feel that it could translate easily onto the stage as dialog, rather than action, drove the story. For those in the mood for acting and dialog, this will meet your needs.

Hitchcoc We have the clash of the secular world with the world of intractable religion represented here. Henry II, played by Peter O'Toole, clashes with his friend, Thomas a Beckett, played by Richard Burton. The issue is Henry's need to have dominance over the church. He feels he can parlay his friendship with Beckett into favors from the big church. Instead, he finds himself threatened with excommunication. Beckett, the ultimate moral man choose God over his friend, and like the true martyr, puts his life on the line for his faith. The scene where the two men meet on horseback on the beach is one of those we remember forever. We already know the story, so there are no surprises. All that is left is to question the decision that Henry makes. This is a classic and deserves a lot more attention.

tieman64 Before "The Lion In Winter" (1968) and "A Man For All Seasons" (1966) was director Peter Glenville's "Becket" (1964). Adapted from a Jean Anouilh play, the film stars Peter O'Toole as King Henry II, the ruler of England. Richard Burton stars as Thomas Becket, the man King Henry appoints Archbishop of Canterbury.Like "A Man For All Season's", "Becket" finds a Christian man daring to oppose the Crown. Burton's Becket may be Henry's close friend and confidant, and he may have been cynically installed by Henry as a means of controlling the Church via proxy, but this ultimately all accounts for nought. Becket, upon becoming Archbishop, becomes infatuated with doing's God work and obsessed with adhering to the creeds and credos of the Church. He will not be the stooge of mere mortals. He will be a pillar of God! Henry, of course, grows furious. "Who shall rid me of this troublesome priest!?" he yells. Becket's killed days later. Pope Alexander III immediately grants him sainthood.At its best, "Becket" works well as a tragedy in which two close friends become unwitting enemies. At its worst, it neglects to explain Becket's sudden infatuation with God and glorifies a character who was essentially every bit as nuts as Henry. Like "A Man For All Seasons", "Becket" pits two controlling, hierarchal systems against one another (church vs a feudalist state), and attempts to sanctify one. And of course the real Becket, far from a saintly guy, was something more mundane; the relative of bankers and a financial adviser himself, he was but a pencil pusher. A sycophantic yes man with delusions of grandeur."Becket" ends with an amazing bit of history. King Henry begs forgiveness from the Pope and then endures one of the most humiliating acts every experienced by an English monarch; he visits Becket's tomb and allows himself to be whipped by monks, abbots and bishops, begging for forgiveness on the murdered body of a friend and saint.7.9/10 - Though the film drags severely in parts, O'Toole and Burton are marvellous. See "The Lion in Winter".