Testament of Youth

  • 2015


MOVIE IS memorable emotional remarkable terrific powerful
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73 %
83 % Certified Fresh
$ 5 Million
See Where to Watch Testament of Youth
Positive Reviews 82
Negative reviews 10
Average Rating 3.6/5
memorable emotional remarkable terrific powerful

  • All
  • Positive
  • Negative
2.2
Theres a good movie in Brittains story, but you wouldnt know it from this lethargic, BBC produced bore. Av Club
2.0
Theres an effective love story at Testament of Youths core, but the misery of this nuance free adaptation of Vera Brittains autobiography drowns the r .. We Got This Covered
4.5
But theres nothing lacking in Vikanders stubborn, compassionate performance. Austin Chronicle
3.0
The book has now been adapted into a beautifully acted but disappointingly stiff period drama. Time Out
4.5
Despite a centennial and such recent works as War Horse, the horror of the war has faded, at least on this side of the Atlantic.Its time for the testa .. Vulture
3.2
Although marketed as a wartime romance, viewers seeking an epic Farewell to Arms type love story will be disappointed. Paste Magazine
4.4
While all of the actors work deserves commendation, special praise must be given to Alicia Vikander, a Swedish actress who does an amazing job conveyi .. Rogerebert
4.0
Avoiding the hectic ostentation which has marred many a Joe Wright project, his alternative is a restrained cinematic polish that feels wholly appropr .. Telegraph
3.8
Its a powerfully emotional film.What it lacks in innovative structure it makes up in the sheer talent of its cast, particularly its lead in Alicia Vik .. The Young Folks
3.0
By the end, Brittain becomes a proponent of pacifism, and this films elegant and quiet style reveals itself. Ny Daily News
4.5
Still, the future looks bright.Even the new war seems promising, particularly since its heavy on the patriotism, and sold as a grand, glamorous advent .. The Globe And Mail
5.0
James Kent directs this intensely focused, emotionally resonant, and beautifully acted drama. Spirituality And Practice
2.8
In short, the film renders Brittains wrenching experiences in sentimental, romanticized tones that value pictorial tastefulness over dramatic power. One Guys Opinion
4.2
Adaptation of Vera Brittains autobiography.In 1913, Brittain is set to take up a place reading English at Somerville College, Oxford, but with the out .. Blu Ray
4.0
This might seem like a genteel Downton Abbey wannabe if not for the painful sense of an entire generation being decimated. Chicago Reader
4.0
Traditional, heartfelt and stirring in all the right ways, the film feels as though it is the natural successor to the war romances of Powell and Pres .. The Times
3.5
The Bible says Blessed are the peacemakers (Matthew 5:9) but many more monuments have been built to honor soldiers and generals than to honor those wh .. Lariat
1.0
BBC veteran James Kent makes his feature debut here, but the filmmaking is utterly embalmed, and Kent spends most of his time mooning over flower arra .. News Review
4.0
The real reason to watch, though, is Vikander, who delivers an engaging, sympathetic performance that elevates what could have been merely worthy to t .. Radio Times
3.0
In spite of the sometimes mannered storytelling style and the over abundance of frocks and bonnets, we are aware of the rawness of her grief and of he .. Independent
3.8
If Vera is occasionally too perfect, so be it.They dont make them like her anymore anyway. The Wrap
3.8
At its center, though, is a performance that cuts right through the decorum. Cs Monitor
4.0
Director James Kent has crafted this reverent adaptation with oodles of loving care and its a handsomely designed, beautifully photographed, slow movi .. Film Journal
3.0
Its a powerful story, and one that deserves to be told and retold, albeit in rather more adventurous fashion. The Guardian
2.0
But for me it remains worryingly close to the inertia of heritage cinema, replete with emotional solemnity. The Guardian
4.0
Not so in Europe, where the sheer devastation of the first world war redefined how a generation viewed itself and the world. Az Central
4.5
Kent and scriptwriter Juliette Towhidi deepen the emotion by simply refusing to over dramatise: everything here is earned. Smh
4.0
It was a devastating coming of age but its tragedies made her a writer. Smh
3.5
Blink, and you might miss a much needed dose of acid from Miranda Richardson as Veras exasperated tutor at Oxford. Npr
4.2
And though its all beautifully shot, the films best visual asset is Swedish actress Vikander. Ew
3.0
Innovative filmmaking, it certainly isnt.But it is consistent, sparing and respectful. Flim List
4.0
Kents film, which at times must skirt the boundary, never crosses the line.There are familiar moments in Vera Brittains stirring story, though the Ken .. Empire
4.0
Sharing a passion for poetry and writing, Vera and Roland, not surprisingly, fall in love. Susang Ranger
4.4
Handsomely mounted, skillfully acted, exquisitely photographed and genuinely touching, Testament of Youth is one of those rare film experiences that i .. Observer
4.0
Vikander, a Swedish actor gifted with extraordinary acting skills and a truly luminescent beauty, gives a quiet but fierce performance. Common Sense Media
3.8
.(Laurie Sparham/Sony Pictures Classics) Still of Alicia Vikander in Testament of Youth. Sf Gate
3.8
Brittain may have spoken for a generation, but wisely, the film doesnt attempt to do the same. Slant Magazine
4.4
The performance is a subtle tour de force of feeling and restraint, made all the more remarkable by the whiplash highs and lows of this true but melod .. Washington Post
3.5
Quite the contrary, it reminds you of the degree to which Hollywood molded our ideas of conflict and places Testament of Youth in a continuum of comme .. The New York Times
4.0
It is by concentrating on the hopes and ideals of its characters and largely steering clear of the battlefields that Testament Of Youth derives its in .. Express
4.0
In many respects Veras early life is idyllic as it unfolds in the beauty and certainty of a glorious English summer. Express
3.5
The supporting cast is terrific and every character is given full dimension and all garner sympathy. Reeling Reviews
4.0
(They end up falling in love.Smart is sexy and appealing in women, too!) Flickfilosopher
4.0
Cast in depth, edited with grace, the picture does great justice to a text that has, of late, become a little under discussed. The Irish Times
5.0
Some cynics may dismiss it as Masterpiece Theatre fodder, but Brittains story offers substance and surprise, as interpreted by screenwriter Juliette T .. Blogs Indie Wire
3.8
Its these beautifully observed moments, captured gorgeously by Kent, and excellently performed by its cast, that make the film linger.They add up to a .. Blogs Indie Wire
5.0
In terms of craftsmanship, Testament is an exemplar of all the best things about British films. Hollywood Reporter
4.0
Its altogether a tearful experience as contemplating such irrecoverable losses to a whole generation should be. Standard
5.0
Alicia Vikander is not only drop dead gorgeous, she is as good an actress as Ive ever seen, worth the price of admission alone. Almost hopelessly roma .. Tony Medley
1.0
Based on Vera Brittains deeply felt 1933 memoir of her World War I experiences, a modern classic that has never gone out of print and kept Virginia Wo .. Los Angeles Times
3.5
See the movie and youll understand why.The film could easily be one of those musty stiff upper lip works with idyllic starstruck virginal types waving .. Detroit News
4.0
Hardys serene but sharply composed lensing isnt immune to interludes of outright pictorialism, but theyre always at the service of the scripts own emo .. Variety
3.0
While the end result will feel quite familiar to most viewers, it is both the steely intent and acute sensitivity Vikander isolates in her role that l .. Herald Sun
2.5
Testament of Youth is equal parts love and languor, blood and British history. And yet, one cant shake the all too aristocratic, snooty, and self seri .. Consequence Of Sound
4.0
It is also a final fitting tribute to this remarkable womans own coming of age tale. Hey U Guys
3.8
Poignant farewells, especially a memorable scene on a train platform, are filmed with classic elements, yet free of cliches. The Star
2.8
Emily Watson can do this sort of stuff in her sleep, and may have here.Brittains life and literary output are worthy of celebration, and theres no bet .. Oregon Live
3.5
Its a great character sketch, but its not character driven. Its war driven, and that may be its main point. Deseret News
3.5
There is no false sentimentality or manipulation; the tears that will be shed are all for the right reasons; there is heartbreak, resilience and the p .. Urban Cine File
3.0
Its a wise move from the filmmakers, who succeed in finding glimmers of humanity in one the of most inhumane of wars. Digital Spy
4.0
Instead, Kent paints a rounded portrait of social change and shifting gender dynamics, underscored by persistent grief. Games Radar
3.1
That segment could have been the basis for its own movie, a far more unusual and interesting one. New York Post
3.5
Vikanders performance, and the ultimate effect of Brittains story, are powerful enough to raise the film above its own shortcomings. Its ultimately a .. Abc
4.0
But it avoids all the formulaic pieties: it is an exquisite piece of work that shimmers with authentic emotion. Nz Herald
3.0
Tackling events of great consequence with sensitivity rather than surety, Testament Of Youth is thoughtful and moving, if a few degrees short of unmis .. Flicks
3.5
A classic British memoir gets the full costume drama treatment with this beautifully crafted World War I drama, although it never quite transcends the .. Contact Music
5.0
Performances are consistently understated; theres no shouting, no uproar and surprisingly little passion. Ar Kansas Online
3.0
But surely some sort of possible middle ground exists whereby this fascinating story could amount to more than a series of visually alluring postcards .. The Arts Desk
5.0
It has been only a couple of months since Alicia Vikander brought a startling humanity to the role of a metal and plastic robot in Alex Garlands Ex Ma .. Wsj
3.5
Brittains romance with Leighton serves as the heart of the film, and although the pair is pleasant enough to watch together, their chemistry is lackin .. The Dissolve
1.0
All the elements are there, and it gets rather better once the blood and mud start mixing in the trenches. Sandiego Reader
2.0
For a film preaching the glories of life, its a film largely without it. Metro New York
2.0
Should I forgive sentimental cliche just because it is based on a true story.Should I pretend to have appreciated the two hours of misery just because .. The Shiz Nit
2.8
Collectively, theyre only given a handful of minor biographical detailsRoland occasionally writes poems, Edward wanted a piano as a youthand little el .. Under The Radar Mag
1.5
Just once, it would be refreshing to see Britain look like something other than a country living catalogue. New Republic
4.4
Testament of Youth keeps its touch light; theres a kind of inevitability to Veras circumstances that must have rankled her even as it made her path cl .. National Post
3.0
Its a strictly stiff upper lip affair that occupies a time when old fashioned values were being challenged and ultimately changed, in no small measure .. Sky
2.0
War is hell.This is a message that has been honed over the years, frequently more poetically or crudely than that. Trespass Mag
3.0
But for me it all felt a bit too restrained and much too tasteful. Daily Star
2.8
And as good as it is, it isnt anything more than what one would expect from a BBC television offering. Weve seen this sort of thing before. Daily Film Fix
3.5
He nimbly tip toes around potential schmaltz, but still delivers the expected quota of emotion. Theepoch Times
3.8
But its vibrant lead performance and skillfully crafted story make it a moving personal journey. Sf Examiner
3.5
Less standard, but crucial, is the films central perspective: Its a war story as told by a woman, whos a pacifist. Sf Weekly
2.5
If good actors can rise above mediocre material and make it memorable, its just as true that they can sometimes be erased by a middling project. Heral
3.8
Testament of Youth isnt a typical biopic; its a heartfelt manual on forging ahead. Miami
4.4
And its all pretty as can be: The plush house dangles in some delicious halfway place between Howards End and Downton Abbey, the costumes are a pastel .. Seattle Times
3.5
Expertly merging the lofty romantic notions weve come to expect from stories of lovers blown apart by the winds of war, veteran television director Ja .. City Beat
4.0
Vikander is a young Swedish star whose subtle acting style is ideal for the big screen. Daily Telegraph
3.5
Kent seems to mistake Brittains metaphysical substance for girlish sentimentality, and if this movie had starred someone like Keira Knightley in the l .. Ex Press
3.8
Left to right: Alicia Vikander as Vera Brittain and Kit Harington as Roland Leighton Photo by Laurie Sparham, Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics Testa .. Charlotte Observer
2.5
Alicia Vikander, hopefully the next major female movie star, can make even ordinarily depicted sorrow seem fresh.In Testament of Youth, the Swedish ac .. Trib
3.5
Cinema is forever reminding us that war is hell.Rarely, however, does it offer us female experiences of that hell. Signature Reads
4.0
Unfortunately, much of it goes wasted here.Its a good bet viewers would have liked to have seen much more emoting from parents Watson (Breaking the Wa .. Montreal Gazette
5.0
Proud and fallenBy Ed RampellThe Bristol Old Vic Production of Long Days Journey Into Night is a masterful rendition of Eugene ONeills masterpiece abo .. Jestherent Blog Spot
4.4
But, in Kents skilled hands, that early twentieth century shire is a beautiful egg rolling on a precipice the drama is watching the status quo cracked .. Zeal Nyc



See Where to Watch Testament of Youth