Customer Reviews

My Boy Jack

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

2007's "My Boy Jack" is an extraordinarily good drama for television, featuring an excellent cast and a compelling story about the First World War, based on a play and a screenplay by David Haig.

When Britain goes to war with Imperial Germany in 1914, young men sign up in droves for the military. John "Jack" Kipling, son of famous writer and British Empire advocate Rudyard Kipling, is anxious to serve in uniform but rejected due to poor eyesight. Overruling the concerns of his wife and daughter, Kipling Senior pulls some strings to get Jack a commission in the Irish Guards. Jack works hard to overcome the challenge of his eyesight, in the process becoming a competent lieutenant and earning the respect of his platoon. All too quickly, Jack ships out for the Western Front, where he goes missing in action in his first mission "over the top" from the trenches at Loos in 1915. The family will spend agonizing months trying to learn his whereabouts. A shell-shocked member of Jack's platoon will finally bring word of Jack's fate.

David Haig is uncanny as Rudyard Kipling, Jack's father, a superbly talented storyteller and novelist, now a government propagandist trying to make sense of hideous casualties. His efforts to enable his son to "do his part" will be a source of immense guilt when Jack goes missing. Kim Cattrell is astonishingly good as Carrie, Jack's American mother. Haunted by the loss of another child, Carrie advocates for a position of less danger for her son, whom she fears will be at additional risk due to his poor eyesight. When Jack goes missing, Carrie is relentless in tracking down clues to his possible fate. Carey Mulligan is very effective as Elsie "Bird" Kipling, Jack's sympathetic older sister, who shares with him the stifling burden of living in the shadow of a very prominent father. Daniel Radcliff is absolutely credible as Jack, whether braving the challenge of military training or sneaking cigarettes with his sister.

At the core of the drama is the haunting question of whether Jack should have gone into service in the first place. The family argues over Kipling Senior's efforts to get Jack preferential treatment, but the story makes clear that Jack is very much a volunteer. Moreover, it is apparent that Jack, out from under his father's shadow, is transformed by his few months in uniform from boy to man, performing with exemplary bravery and with compassion for his soldiers.

Production values are exceptionally good for a television movie. At least some filming was done at Kipling's home of Bateman in Southern England. Period costumes and manners are spot-on. The recreation of the Western Front is appropriately wet, muddy, and terrifying. The closing scene, in which Rudyard Kipling comforts King George V for the unexpected loss of his own child by reciting a moving poem, is a perfect ending for the movie.

This movie is very highly recommended as compelling period family drama.

It has been a long time since I saw a Masterpiece (Theater) program that was so thought provoking and moving; the performances are superb and true to heart. David Haig (who wrote the play My Boy Jack) is the very image of Rudyard Kipling. He is shows us the jingoistic author who believes that war against the Germans is a crusade to keep the Huns out of England. When he must confront the loss of his son, Mr. Haig shows the emotional side of Kipling with great tenderness. His son John Kipling (in fact his youngest child) is caught up in the belief that the war will be an heroic adventure, but he also wants to go to war because it will be a release for him to become his own man and escape from his father's fame and reputation. For me, Daniel Radcliffe did an excellent job of portraying the dissatisfaction that Jack has with his life and his desire to escape. Kim Cattrall is nicely cast as Jack's mother. Kipling married the daughter of his American literary agent and lived in the United States for several years before returning to England. Ms. Cattrall sensitively conveys the grief over the loss of Jack and the hope that everyone holds that as long as a body has not been found there is a chance for life.

Also of interest is that the film was made at the Kipling home - Bateman - which is now owned by the National Trust. Daniel Radcliffe mentioned in an interview that he saw a place where the real John Kipling had carved his initials. The battlefield scenes are well conceived and the actors convey the fear and horror of war perfectly. My Boy Jack is a film I will never forget and deserves to have a wide audience.

I found this made for TV film to be the most moving film I have seen in a long time. It was beautifully written by David Haig and beautifully filmed. In my humble opinion everyone in this film gave an outstanding performance. The relaionship between David Haig and Daniel Radcliffe on screen was wonderful. I felt the father/son relaionship was so rich and touching, they could have been father/son in real life.
I personally feel that is also one of the best performances I have ever seen from Mr. Radcliffe.
I higly recommend this film, not just for the actors who are in it (David,Dan and Kim) but because this is an extremely important story that I think everyone should see.
I also recommend having a big box of kleenax on hand as well, this film will make you cry!

I won't comment on the historical accuracies or inaccuracies of this film (for example, obviously we cannot know what Jack's final moments were exactly like; the only reason this gets a 4). While the changing of events in otherwise historical films can severely detract from the quality of the work, I do not believe that was the case here, as I feel this is much more about the characters than anything else.

I purchased this because I am a long time fan of Kipling, and the first thing I thought of when I saw this movie in the store was, "Hey, that's the name of a Kipling poem!" I picked it up, read the back of the case, and bought it.

The acting is superb. Daniel Radcliffe, otherwise known for his work in the Harry Potter movies, pulls of this dramatic role powerfully and believably. Haig's performance as the senior Kipling is incredibly moving. First, I was appalled at how he glorified war and the state, and then I felt pity for his loss and heartbreak, but the important thing is that in both cases I FELT it, and I BELIEVED it. This was truly some of the best acting I've seen this year.

The anguish that Jack's parents felt was powerful and moving, and Haig's reciting of the poem at the end of the movie literally gave me goosebumps and, yes I'll admit, brought a few tears to my eyes.

I highly recommend this movie. 4.5 stars

The acting in this moving and elegant production cannot be faulted. I do wish, however, that the producers had made the film into a mini-series. I feel that the family dynamic was insufficiently explored in order to fit into the constraints of the "Masterpiece" time slot, with the result that the relationship between father and son, which could have been fully developed in several episodes, was rendered in "shorthand." This lack of development is especially unfortunate when one knows how the plot will evolve. Nevertheless, the film presents a compelling statement not only on the folly of war but also on its futility and waste.

My Boy Jack. Since pretending to be a world weary cynical reviewer seems to be the goal of many reviewers, you might be relieved to hear that my whole family greatly enjoyed this Masterpiece production. It not only brought about an amazingly thoughtful discussion about war, families,WW1 and today's Iraq, it also had one teenager on the computer (before the show ended)to find out if Jack really died or if he walks back in later. Further searches produced additional information on Rudyard Kipling.
We considered all the parts well acted, the scenes realistic and well done. There are times that we all grow a bit weary of the childish tirades against Daniel Radcliffe. We watched this production with totally open eyes and no preconceived opinions about the various actors and without looking for or creating faults. Perhaps that is why we so enjoyed it! The fact that it opened up meaningful discussions and further interest in the author himself were added bonuses of this true story. Highly recommended by this family of six!

"Have you news of my boy Jack?"
Not this tide.
"When d'you think that he'll come back?"
Not with this wind blowing, and this tide.

A very sad film about the famous author Rudyard Kipling and his family. His son, who has poor eyesight wishes to do his part for King and Country at the start of World War I. His father who has become a Warmonger uses his influences to get him in the army after he is turned down by a medical examination on two occasions and both are enthusiastic about Jack's involvement in the war as a sense of adventure and doing your bit with a stiff upper lip, regardless of the news of mass casualties that this war produces.

The outcome is inevitable and the young officer goes missing leaving his father and family devastated for it is one thing to know that others are dying then when it becomes your son, your family and the tradegy hits you on a personal level.

It is a somber film, the story is well acted and told. It comes with my best recommendations.

The story of Rudyard Kipling's son John and his short career as a soldier in early World War I is quite a powerful story. The presentation has to compress and eliminate many details so I think it would have better served its purpose if it had been allowed to be a longer production - maybe three hours. I marked it down for this purpose only.

The acting performances were outstanding on all levels - from David Haig's Kipling to the nameless men in young John's (Jack) platoon waiting to go over the top in the mud and muck of Loos. Everyone did their parts to perfection. The attention to detail was outstanding although I could quibble that one man's South Africa War medal ribbons were in the wrong order.

You recieve a great sense of what it was like on the western front in 1915. Not glorious or romantic - rather a quagmire of mud and muck where the biggest concern was trench foot and keeping your rifle in working order when it was caked in mud. About the only creatures that seemed to enjoy the western front were the rats.

Kipling has a very complex role in this film. On the one hand he wants to aid his son achieve his ambition of entering the military. On the other hand he is on the committee that is dealing with releasing war news to the public and the horrific casualty rates - over 11,000 officers and men killed, wounded and missing in one day in one battle. Kipling's feeling that it is best to be upfront with the numbers as that will inspire others to serve to remember those who had gone before them. I'm not sure that was good thinking for later in the war but I can understand his logic at the start.

The meeting with the King, as they both share the loss of a son - Kipling and his son Jack, George V and his son John. They were meeting as fathers in mourning, not king and subject. The scene is extremely powerful.

The commentarries by the actors in the afterward of the DVD were also quite impressive and thought provoking. Kim Cattrell's comments are especially important as she talks of her grandfather and her father and the effects that World Wars I and II had on them and what she wanted to achieve for her nephew as the war in Iraq was starting up as this was filmed.

It is a complex story that is well told and acted. I encourage those interested in British history and literature to see this film.

It is uncanny how well Haig portrays Rudyard Kipling. It's not just the resemblence but how well he has nailed every aspect of this man. Haig showcases his passion for this particular project that has been years in the making. It is truly a beautiful and poignant film. It has the feel of a big budget release rather than a movie made for television.

You feel the zeal and grandeur of the time. The locations were brilliantly done. The Western Front looked as foreboding as anything I've seen depicted on screen for WWI. It wasn't all glory to fight for King and country. And you feel the fear and anxiety of these young men when they finally do get the trenches. The romanticism of war is quickly washed away. It is as relevant now as it was then.

All of the performances are terrific. Carey Mulligan is quite touching as "Bird", the only surviving of the Kipling children. She is quite an amazing actress and grabs you in every scene. I did worry about Kim Catrall, believing I wouldn't be able to see past her Sex and the City persona, Samantha. Carrie Kipling is a quiet force, and truly the heart of the story.I believe this is Catrall's finest performance.

The same can be said for the impressive Daniel Radcliffe. I was pleasantly surprised at just how good he really is. He couldn't have been more perfectly cast as Kipling's only son, John "Jack". Known primarily for Harry Potter, Radcliffe steps up brilliantly as an adult and seasoned actor. He is heartbreaking in this film. Jack's desire to be his own man, escape from his family and yet his fierce loyalty to his family...mirrors Radcliffe's own life with the Harry Potter family he's grown up with. I wish there could have been more for Radcliffe in this film. The scenes with Haig and Mulligan are so touching. He pulled out a stellar performance in so little screen time convincing me that Harry Potter is a limiting role for this talented young man. I think Daniel Radcliffe is the real deal and will only get better as a serious actor. One of the few child stars that will make the transition and have success like that of a Jodie Foster. Continuing to choose projects such as this and Equus, make me admire him even more. That he isn't just banking on his Potter fame or going to way of many young celebrities. I will watch his rising career with interest.

David Haig deserves a Best Actor Emmy Award for this outstanding performance. Actually, Catrall should at least garner a nomination, for she truly was amazing in this role. And yes, I'll say it, even though he probably wouldn't win, I'd like to see Radcliffe nominated for a supporting role. Just because I feel he deserves recognition for his talent outside of Potter (for which I don't forsee many awards).

If you only know of Rudyard Kipling because of his The Jungle Book (Unabridged Classics), here is your perfect opportunity to examine a very intimate and touching portrait of the man and his family and the romance and horror of War.

David Haig has written, produced and starred as world renowned English author Rudyard Kipling, examining most closely his family life and his relationship to King, Country and Loyalty as concerning his eldest son Jack (Daniel Radcliffe). The portrait painted is beautifully balanced as Kipling is equally a family man and equally a son of the Crown. He wants nothing but the best for his son, but is what is best what his son wants? Jack is stifled by the Kipling household and wants to gain his independence from the family whom he loves dearly; but like all boys of WW1, the notion of War for King and Country sweep the imagination. Jack and his father long to see him as a Naval Officer, but when Jack's nearsightedness makes him not a candidate to fight the glorious battle, strings are pulled to get Jack into the Irish Guard as an officer. Kim Catrall, as Mrs. Carrie Kipling, is the absolute soul of restraint, proud yet fearing, loving yet resigned. Carey Mulligan as sister "Bird" will have nothing to do with Jack going to War. Therefore, "My Boy Jack" becomes one famous family's triumph and tragedy with War, and it is beautifully executed in a most unsentimental way. Haig's screenplay and the actors never fall into unabashed sentimentality, but keep things real and focused at all times..."chin up Old Things", as Jack writes home from the battlefield.

The special featurette involves Haig, Catrall and Radcliffe in intelligent and engaging, thought-provoking examinations of War and the English notion of glory before WW1.

A great companion piece to "My Boy Jack" would be another Masterpiece Theater production Masterpiece Theatre: All the King's Men which does a more thorough job at explaining the English notions of superiority, fighting for God and Country, and the romantic notions that ultimately made them unprepared to fight.