I recently saw the new Tolkien film, directed by Dome Karukoski, starring Nicholas Hoult in the title role, and Lily Collins as Edith Bratt, who would become Tolkien’s wife. I strongly recommend this movie, whether you’re familiar with Tolkien’s life and work or not. It’s a nice homage to a man whose work has captured the imagination of millions of readers.
Tolkien hits many of the right notes in bringing us through his tragic childhood, the death of his mother, and his early life as a student. Colm Meany plays father Francis Morgan, who was Tolkien’s guardian after his mother died, and the inestimable Derek Jacobi plays Tolkien’s mentor and professor at Oxford. We get a sense of the friendships Tolkien made as a young man, and follow him through his studies, and the outbreak of World War I. The movie of course takes liberties with his biography, as all movies of this kind will, but overall the film does a good job in getting us emotionally invested in Tolkien’s early life.
Edith Bratt was the love of Tolkien’s life, and their budding romance is handled nicely in the film. It is hard not to feel sympathy for these two orphans who would create a family of their own together. There are also scenes of the horror Tolkien experienced in the Somme, and viewers get an idea of how Tolkien was inspired by this to start creating Middle-earth. Hoult shows intensity in Tolkien’s obsession with languages and his devotion to his friends, and to Edith. I found the film very moving, and it left me with a sense of how difficult his formative years were. Yet from this crucible, he created a beloved mythology that will outlast us all.
The Tolkien estate has already criticized this movie, as is their right, but their opposition makes little difference to those who want to see it–they also disliked Peter Jackson’s films, which of course the public hated to the tune of best picture awards, and a worldwide haul that was greater than Smaug’s treasure hoard. I’ve also read complaints that the film is not Catholic enough, or historical enough. No doubt eventually some aggrieved superfan will criticize the absence of elves and dwarves. (I find the Catholic criticisms particularly amusing, as it is leveled every time a Tolkien movie, exhibit or book is released; it seems enraged Catholic critics want the world to see a version of this film that is two hours of Tolkien attending mass, going to confession, and perhaps railing endlessly against secular humanism. Maybe the Church ought to just canonize the man and be done with it.) I think these strong reactions show that everyone feels so close to Tolkien and his work, and would like to claim him as their own, but Tolkien belongs to the world. Ignore the complaints, and decide for yourself. If you are interested in Tolkien, I can say as a lifelong fan that you won’t be disappointed. It might even inspire you to pick up some of his works you haven’t read, or delve into a biography—Humphrey Carpenter’s wonderful book would be a good start.
Bilbo by Jef Murray 
Christopher Tuthill 