Author C.S Lewis (Anthony Hopkins) marries American writer Joy Gresham (Debra Winger) out of necessity but soon the bond grows stronger, and romance soon blooms.
I was only aware of Hopkins through his famous incantation of Hannibal Lecter in the film The Silence of The Lambs. While seeking out Shadowlands, I knew nothing of the film itself although I was familiar with the author C.S Lewis.
I don’t think I quite have the words to describe Hopkins’ brilliance here. His characterization of Lewis really brought him to life. His relationship with Winger’s Gresham was superb and their dynamic felt so real. I think I cried about three times over the film’s duration.
The characters felt real, as did their lives. This film truly is a gem, and I wish I’d seen it sooner. I think its also given me a renewed appreciation of Lewsis’s writing as well. Every actor in this film gives 100% no matter how big or small their role is. While it could very easily tick the boxes of “seen it all before”, it doesn’t. I wanted to watch it and I sat entranced through the entire runtime.
The cinematography is beautiful. Indeed, the film feels as if the audience is being wrapped in a nice warm hug. If you are a fan of C.S Lewis, I highly recommend you watch this film.
MY RATING: ***** / *****
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