Empire of the Sun

If you want a drama that takes its characters as seriously as its plot, Empire of the Sun is available in the UK on Sky Go and Now TV Cinema right now. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. With 2,153 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Christian Bale's performance alone is worth the time investment. Put it on tonight on Sky Go and see for yourself.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Empire of the Sun earns its spot. Empire of the Sun trusts its audience to sit with discomfort instead of resolving it too quickly. Jamie Graham, a privileged English boy, is living in Shanghai when the Japanese invade and force all foreigners into prison camps. Jamie is captured with an American sailor, who looks out for him while they are in the camp together. Even though he is separated from his parents and in a hostile environment, Jamie maintains his dignity and youthful spirit, providing a beacon of hope for the others held captive with him. Christian Bale and John Malkovich lead a cast that treats the material with real seriousness. It hit screens in 1987. What elevates Empire of the Sun is a refusal to let any character off the hook too easily. The consistency throughout is what elevates it — not every moment is the best, but none of them are a reason to stop watching.

Drama fans who appreciate slow-burn storytelling will feel right at home with Empire of the Sun. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Christian Bale's work here is the kind that gets referenced in career retrospectives. It makes everything else feel thin by comparison.