Birdsong

I came across this film based on a recommendation—otherwise, I probably wouldn’t have found it. I knew nothing about it going in, and the cast isn’t exactly A-list, so it didn’t grab my attention that way. But I have to say, the actors delivered far beyond my expectations. Add to that an amazing score—honestly, for a TV film, the music could have been much more average, but it was excellent—and an epic story. Yes, the three-hour runtime drags a bit at times, but once you hit the trenches of World War I, you forget about those slow moments. And the ending? It should be a textbook example of how to finish a TV movie—it’s absolutely beautiful. I haven’t felt the intensity of war on screen like this in a long time. This one really captures the atmosphere. (18/09/2012)