Hero Of War
Sir Anthony Hopkins takes centre stage in the remarkable real-life story of Nicholas Winton, an ordinary man who has an extraordinary impact on hundreds of child refugees during the Second World War.
Words Robb Sheppard
Nicholas Winton, later nicknamed the British Schindler, risks everything to evacuate more than six-hundred refugee children from Prague on the eve of the Second World War.
Through Johnny Flynn’s performance, One Life documents a youthful and heroic Winton in the late-1930s as he plans and executes his extraordinary rescue, while Anthony Hopkins’ iteration of the elderly Winton sees him in the late eighties where he’s surprised by those he saved during a recording of That’s Life! and comes to terms with the fact that he couldn’t save more.
Now in his mid-eighties himself, Hopkins is one of the most interesting periods of his career, with all of his real-life experience informing his characters onscreen and burdening every slight gesture with deep meaning. When he wipes away a tear, the audience does too.
He’s joined by Helena Bonham Carter as Winton’s mother, Babette, who’s often overlooked but was integral to the venture, as well as Jonathan Pryce as Martin Blake, the man who first invited Winton to the one-time Czechoslovakia.
One Life may feel too close for comfort in the current climate, but this story of hope and heroism during our darkest days is exactly the antidote that’s needed in the present-day news cycle with its message that whoever saves a single life, saves the entire world.
Octogenarian Icon
The Silence Of The Lambs
Hopkins lifts Dr Hannibal “The Cannibal” Lecter from the pages of Thomas Harris’ novel to become part of the cultural zeitgeist. Solely responsible for soaring sales of chianti and fava beans since 1991.
Thor: Ragnarok
Hopkins gives God-like gravitas to his performance as Odin, father of Thor and Loki, and the King of Asgard. Still managing to inflect pathos as he reaches the end of his reign proves Hopkins truly is a marvel.
The Father
In this secondary Academy Award-winning lead role, Hopkins is joined by fellow Oscar-winner Olivia Colman as he portrays a father struggling while dementia unravels the reality around him. Take tissues for this devastating drama.
