1984

"Who controls the past controls the future: He who controls the present controls the past." +++ "Under the spreading chestnut tree, I sold you, you sold me." +++ "It's not so much staying alive, it's staying human that's important. What counts is that we don't betray each other." +++ I read the cult novel "1984" at a time when I still couldn't fully understand everything and it had a strong impact on me even then. This film adaptation, successful in every respect, is a chillingly dark vision of a totalitarian regime (comparable to the book). The filmmakers managed to capture the atmosphere of the constant surveillance of Big Brother, from which there is no escape. It's definitely one of the most depressing films I've ever seen. The ideas contained in it are unfortunately not utopian even at present, one only has to look around. It almost seems that for unnamed Asian countries, Orwell's book may have been the inspiration for making people docile, fearful sheep. (85%) (09/12/2020)

Unfortunately, I haven't read George Orwell's dystopian novel (shame on me), so in this case I can't judge to what extent the film manages to bring the main ideas from the book to the screen. As far as the film is concerned, I definitely have to praise the production design in the first place – the gloomy atmosphere of the grey and drab city guarded by the eyes of Big Brother is well done. I consider the final confrontation between the conscious individual and the ruthless system to be the strongest moment. On the other hand, I found the film stiff, likewise with the performances. Personally, I think that in order to fully judge the film, I would have to read the book first, so this rating should be taken with a grain of salt. (08/04/2019)

An incredibly depressing film that captures the spirit of the book. Ubiquitous poverty and squalor uniformity in thought and dress, a grim environment, scratched walls and a screen in every room with Big Brother watching everything. A suffocating totalitarian atmosphere, full of fear and surveillance, and in it a man, brilliantly played by John Hurt, yearning for love, purity, and freedom. His equal partner is Richard Burton in the role of the High Partisan, although he doesn't have much space. Suzanne Hamilton just nods along, but she brings an element of feminine beauty that at least somewhat offsets a lot of the bleakness. What surprised me is that the music is by Eurythmics. The final scene with the electroshock and the starving rats is not easy to get out of your head. If you're not in the right mood, by all means don't watch this, put it off for another day. (20/09/2003)

This film’s biggest problem is the existence of the great book it adapts. Therefore, avoiding comparisons is impossible and they make the film feel like some sort of summary that we are supposed watch as illustration while reading the book. But I actually don’t think it could be possible to do it much better. (27/11/2008)

The human mind is incredibly malleable... Filmed by a fan of the book, it’s clear to see. I won’t give it all five stars because of the slow take-off and sleepy tempo. Richard Burton (in his last ever role) and a fairly young John Hurt give excellent performances and it’s no problem to believe their every thought. To tell the truth, I watched 1984 just as preparation for an exam, but in the end I was pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere of nothingness and despair. Who controls the past, controls the future. Who controls the present, controls the past. (05/07/2010)