The Lion in Winter

Right now you can watch The Lion in Winter in the US on BFI Player Amazon Channel and Kanopy, and in the UK on Sky Go and Now TV Cinema — and it holds up to as much attention as you give it. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. With 405 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Peter O'Toole's performance alone is worth the time investment. Put it on tonight on BFI Player Amazon Channel and see for yourself.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, The Lion in Winter is worth clearing space for. The writing in The Lion in Winter treats its characters as people first, plot devices second. Christmas 1183, Angevin Empire: King Henry II plans to announce his successor to the throne. Jockeying for the crown, though, is complex. Henry has three sons and wants his boy Prince John to take over. Peter O'Toole and Katharine Hepburn lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1968. What elevates The Lion in Winter is a refusal to let any character off the hook too easily. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

For anyone looking for storytelling that takes its characters seriously, The Lion in Winter delivers. 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. Peter O'Toole carries the material with a performance that rewards close attention. Worth starting sooner rather than later.