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Starring: Timothy Spall, Juliet Stevenson, Eddie Marsan

Directed By: Adrian Shergold

This film is surely not for the faint of heart and for those looking for entertainment.

So we are over with that now for the missed chance by the Oscars for one of the most miraculous performance probably in this decade by Timothy Spall. He is known for taking up roles that are so not to his stature. But he seems to be totally oblivious of what he has done so far. He conjures up a performance that will surely make many people flinch at seeing him go to some lengths to get his emotions across. The thing with the performance that almost scary is the fact that you empathize with what he has to go through only towards the end. The job of an executioner is done with great detail in this film. There are so many things taken into account by the director that make this tale one that could do without some detail. The film doesn’t hide its tone for anything. The visuals are of decadence shot in an unusual style but still so crisp. Everything in this man’s life burns like the ashes on his cigar.

The man Pierrepoint was a pillar of disdain and national pride at the same time. Nobody was really sure of what to take him for. His big turning point came with killing of some Nazi criminals. But that really changed for the worse. But finally comes down to the choice he is sort of forced to make as a human at what he does best. Most of the film is based on true events but the events in a normal fashion and at times the director tries to be entertaining by calling him No 1 at what he does. But the only little commercial flare in this movie turns out to be a devastating observation. This common misconception of what the people think of him and the dilemma we are put through as a audience makes this film leap beyond its humble character sketch. It will come as a surprise to some that through all this death shown on this film there is still an ear ripping human voice. This truly is where the film gives us a chance to examine ourselves as the authorities of choice.

Yes the film is left with a penultimate choice but it is what we take from it that is truly going to be something you are not prepared for. My advice is to stray from this film if you have forgotten how to make choices.