Mr Burton - Review

When it comes to biopics or real-life events, it is often hard to deduce what is worthy of the big screen experience. It is only a certain type of journey that caters itself to the film format. Indeed with biopics, I’ve been often left asking does this person deserve their own film. To be a strong biopic you need an interesting subject but also an intriguing narrative. Just being about someone famous doesn’t make it an interesting film. Mr Burton is one of the rare examples where, although not at first glance, ticks all the boxes of a great biopic.

The film tells the rags-to-riches story of Richard Burton, the Prince of Welsh acting, who decades after his death is heralded as one of the Welsh greats. The film follows Richard Jenkins (Harry Lawtey), or Richie as he’s better known, the twelfth of 13 children to his father Dic Jenkins (Steffan Rhodri) and his mother Maude, who died just two years after his birth. The film introduces Richie as a young man, a studious but cheeky lad in his final years of school in 1942. He is a hard worker but also scruffy, the cover of his book is torn off but can’t be replaced because of rationing. He grows up in the mining town of Port Talbot, with the expectation that in a few years, all the boys his age will be shipped off to war.

However, his teacher, Mr Philip Burton (Toby Jones) takes a liking to him, when as punishment for his dishevelled book, Richie recites a soliloquy from Henry V. The pair grow a fondness for one another and soon Richie signs up with Mr Burton for fire watch duty. However, Richie is pulled out of school to help with living costs in his home, leaving Mr Burton frustrated. With the encouragement of his landlady Mrs Smith (Lesley Manville), Mr Burton adopts Richie, taking the Burton name, and trains him up to live for the stage.

The film is a fairly well-trodden but accomplished rags-to-riches story. It is a compelling narrative mostly through both central characters rising up against adversity. For Richie, it is about dispelling his family's trajectory to head towards the mines. Acting isn’t an occupation for these people, it is a vocation that is frowned upon. Meanwhile, Mr Burton has to fight against calls that his intentions may be for some other ostensible purpose, something that even Mrs Smith makes note of. This strand of narrative is particularly considered, with Toby Jones somewhat blurring the lines effectively.

What is also compelling is the comparisons that can be made between Richard Burton and Henry V. Both of whom are somewhat irresponsible, but are thrust into power and have to live up to the responsibility placed upon them. This is a narrative that becomes particularly apparent towards the back end of the film where Richie’s god-given talent is increasingly obvious. The only mark against Mr Burton however is its time jumps towards the back end that feel a little abrupt and tacked on.

From the marketing, Mr Burton looks like a standard British biopic but the result is of much greater quality. A multifaceted film that builds Richard Burton up to one of the greats, but not without flaws.