Queen & Country

Running time: 105 mins

Master director John Boorman (Excalibur, Deliverance, Hope and Glory) beautifully portrays the early 1950s with the warm glow of personal memories from his youth, as he did with WWII in Hope and Glory. His latest follows 18-year-old Bill Rohan (Callum Turner), as he is called up for National Service in the British Army. But, instead of being shipped off to Korea, Bill finds himself in a desk job. This could be considered "cushy", but not while working under a regulation-fixated Sergeant Major (the captivating David Thewlis) whose love for rules seems more masochistic than efficient. Outside of the office, Bill pursues romance with a young blonde who is definitely out of his league, yet indulges his pursuit -- even if she won't divulge much about herself. Imbued with nostalgia and sincerity, Boorman creates the same deeply felt emotions and genuine love for characters he has for decades. Very few filmmakers can be called a legend, and he is one of them. - Michael Rabehl