Telling the story of the formation of the modern nation of Botswana, and the furore caused in the 1940s when the heir to the throne brought home a white wife, A United Kingdom offers a well-formed period piece that unfortunately suffers from the pitfalls of many such biopics.
Firstly, the 1940s/50s period setting is often sumptuous and evidently well-created, and the story is rather compelling. Seeing this take on a historical story - of focusing on the human element - is rather good. David Oyelowo and Rosamund Pike are stellar if unremarkable as the leads, even if Oyelowo does get the chance to show some passion in his speeches, whilst Tom Felton (Harry Potter) and Jack Davenport (Pirates of the Caribbean) get to flex their villainous muscles.
Ultimately, though, there's just not that much of note here, and it simply isn't worth watching as it will have been forgotten within a day. A rather bland and uninspired take on an interesting story, which is worthwhile at times but all in all fails to amount to much. 53/100.
Firstly, the 1940s/50s period setting is often sumptuous and evidently well-created, and the story is rather compelling. Seeing this take on a historical story - of focusing on the human element - is rather good. David Oyelowo and Rosamund Pike are stellar if unremarkable as the leads, even if Oyelowo does get the chance to show some passion in his speeches, whilst Tom Felton (Harry Potter) and Jack Davenport (Pirates of the Caribbean) get to flex their villainous muscles.
Ultimately, though, there's just not that much of note here, and it simply isn't worth watching as it will have been forgotten within a day. A rather bland and uninspired take on an interesting story, which is worthwhile at times but all in all fails to amount to much. 53/100.