The Journey **** (2016, Timothy Spall, Colm Meaney, Freddie Highmore, Toby Stephens, John Hurt) – Movie Review

Director Nick Hamm’s 2016 drama The Journey is most entertaining and informative, surprisingly so, given the subject matter. It is a very good, satisfying mix of politics and personal drama.

Timothy Spall is great as Democratic Unionist Party leader Ian Paisley and Colm Meaney is excellent as Sinn Fein politician Martin McGuinness, a great sparring duo odd couple act. It is almost entirely their show, and they are totally up for it, a couple of stars. Spall of course looks nothing like Paisley, but this good actor manages to suggest him totally.

In writer Colin Bateman’s amusing and perceptive screenplay, the two deadly Northern Ireland enemies are forced to take a chauffeured car journey together, supposedly leading to a thaw in hostilities.

Toby Stephens’s Tony Blair is funny, a caricature, but funny. Freddie Highmore is amusing as the laddish Jack the security man driver and it was lovely to see John Hurt one last time as the Brit security boss, Harry Patterson.

Not sure about the idea of humanizing these awful monsters, but still it is a very good film.

Nick Hamm is the director of The Hole (2001), Godsend (2004) and Killing Bono (2011).

© Derek Winnert 2017 Movie Review

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