Mr. Burton

We did not know what to expect with this film. We watched it in a little cinema in South Wales to set the scene.

The casting was spot on. Lesley Toby and Harry are superb, there is no over acting, everyone's accents are just right.

The directing and atmosphere is all you ever want. Such a lovely experience. Would honestly have been a score of 10/10 if the distant scenery and Port Talbot cgi was of a much higher standard. But all in all a very big Thank You.

Did I say Lesley Toby and Harry are superb, no over acting, accents are just right. The directing and atmosphere is all you ever want. Such a lovely experience. Would have been 10/10 if scenery and Port Talbot cgi was a higher standard. But Thank You.

If for no other reason this film is worth watching for the performance of Toby Jones as Philip Burton. The teacher who started Richard Burton on his way to super stardom.

It is touching and moving to see the faith that the teacher had in Richard Burton that he would make good as an actor.

The whole cast is excellent particularly the two actors playing Burton as a schoolboy and then as an actor in his twenties at the beginning of his metioric rise to startdom. Burtins overindulgence in alcohol, probably inherited from his father hinting at the problems that would confront him in later life and lead to his early death.

This deserves to be seen by more than the small cinema attendance.

I didn't know what I was expecting from this film, but It is absolutely superb.

At first I wasn't sure that Harry Lawtey as Burton had the presence needed for such a huge role, by then end I was wondering if he may well win an Oscar for his performance.

Also starring Toby Jones and Lesley Manville, two of the finest actors around and both as excellent as expected, although Manville slightly underused in my opinion.

Rounding out a superb cast are Anuerin Barnard and Aimee-Ffion Edwards again both excellent.

Knowing the story of old It's a true life feel good movie showing how having belief in someone with no agenda pays off handsomely and is very inspiring.

The scenes in Taibach, Port Talbot and surrounding areas are fascinating to see how they've caught that moment in time with the steelworks spewing out the pollution that so blighted the landscape.

The best film i've seen in a long time and is a must see.

Don't know who he is, didn't watch him play the new joker, haven't heard anyone mentioned about him. Didn't event want to watch this movie when glancing the movie poster with Toby Jones.

But when the trailer showed up before another movie I was going to watch, oh my, the way he escalates the mountain screaming was A Master already, just this new seconds, I wanted to know who this guy is , how good he can act, what about Mr Burton.

The way to tell this biography-like is predictable, a bit boring tbh, but, watching this upcoming super star acting , from an innocent school teenage boy, to an ungrateful adopted troubled young man, to an arrogant alcoholic rising actor, it was FASCINATING, his eyes are telling story, dragging all the audiences at once !

I wish he will get more and more important roles with world class production. We can't let an actor with this astonishing talent slips away.

Mr. Burton offers a glimpse into the pivotal early life of Richard Burton (Rich Jenkins), guided by his influential teacher, Philip Burton.

While Toby Jones delivers a predictably strong performance as Philip Burton, anchoring the film with his understated gravitas, the movie itself presents a mixed bag, showcasing both its heartfelt intentions and some narrative stumbles.

The film's core strength lies in its portrayal of the mentorship between Philip Burton and young Richard Jenkins (a commendable Harry Lawtey). Their evolving dynamic is compelling, painting a vivid picture of how a working-class boy from Port Talbot was shaped into a theatrical force. Jones and Lawtey share a believable chemistry that drives the narrative forward, highlighting the profound impact one individual can have on another's destiny.

However, "Mr. Burton" isn't without its drawbacks. The pacing, while allowing for character development, can feel overly deliberate, occasionally bordering on slow. Some narrative beats follow a familiar biopic trajectory, which, while comforting, can also limit the film's sense of fresh discovery. Furthermore, while the film touches upon the complexities and whispers surrounding their close relationship, it tends to shy away from deeper exploration, leaving certain intriguing facets underexamined. In a certain way, that might have been for the better!

Ultimately, it's a sincere and well-acted tribute, but one that occasionally plays it safe, preventing it from truly soaring.