The Children Act

Name: The Children Act
Genre: Drama
Released: September 14, 2018
Duration: 105 min
Rating: 62
Cast: Anthony Calf, Ben Chaplin, Dominic Carter, Eileen Walsh, Emma Thompson

2018

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Generally favorable reviews based on 28 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 19 Ratings

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6.9

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6.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 19 Ratings

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The Children Act

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Movie Details & Credits

Entertainment One | Release Date: September 14, 2018 | R

Starring: Anthony Calf, Ben Chaplin, Dominic Carter, Eileen Walsh, Emma Thompson, Fionn Whitehead, Honey Holmes, Jason Watkins, Nicholas Jones, Nikki Amuka Bird, Rosie Cavaliero, Rupert Vansittart, Stanley Tucci, Toni Beard

Summary: Fiona Maye (Emma Thompson) is intensely dedicated to her profession, never finding time to have her own children while fully assuming the immense responsibility of making life-and-death decisions about the children of others. As Fiona is about to embark on one of the most challenging cases of her career, Jack (Stanley Tucci) her neglectedFiona Maye (Emma Thompson) is intensely dedicated to her profession, never finding time to have her own children while fully assuming the immense responsibility of making life-and-death decisions about the children of others. As Fiona is about to embark on one of the most challenging cases of her career, Jack (Stanley Tucci) her neglected and increasingly frustrated husband, makes a shocking revelation, sending her into an emotional tailspin. The case in question concerns seventeen-year-old Adam (Fionn Whitehead), a Jehovah’s Witness suffering from leukemia, whose life could be saved by a simple blood transfusion, but who is refusing on religious grounds. Though just months shy of his eighteenth birthday, when he could legally choose for himself, Adam’s fate instead rests with Fiona, who, uncertain in her decision, makes the unusual move of leaving her courtroom to visit Adam’s hospital bedside. Their encounter forges a profound and unexpected connection, leading them both to challenge their beliefs, evaluate their choices, and grapple with the ultimate question of what constitutes right and wrong.… Expand

Director: Richard Eyre

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: R

Runtime: 105 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Tiffany Tchobanian

Sep 13, 2018

The Children Act is a masterpiece from beginning to end and it should not be missed. Read full review

Fionnuala Halligan

The Children Act is a cerebral piece, for sure, and a disturbing one by the end, but Thompson’s performance brings life to the complex moral questions it attempts to examine. Read full review

Ann Hornaday

Sep 19, 2018

Accompanied, appropriately enough, by Bach piano pieces, The Children Act is an unmitigated pleasure to watch and listen to, primarily as a showcase for Thompson’s incomparable gifts as an actress. Read full review

Kim Hughes

Sep 13, 2018

Credit the towering talents of Emma Thompson and Stanley Tucci with redeeming The Children Act, a film oddly thin on story despite coming from the marvelous Ian McEwan, who adapted his own novel for the screen but somehow failed to capture the surge of the source material. Read full review

Justin Chang

Sep 13, 2018

The Children Act evinces measured intelligence and polished craftsmanship without ever quite shaking off the feel of a work filtered through its non-native medium. Still, it’s always rewarding to watch Thompson bring her lucid wit and deep emotional reserves to bear on a meaty role. Read full review

Empire Ian Freer

Aug 27, 2018

If it lacks filmmaking fireworks and emotional wallop, The Children Act delivers a sensitive, thoughtful drama about complicated issues. And it is another reminder, if one were needed, of the subtlety and skill of Emma Thompson’s stratospheric talent. Read full review

Diego Semerene

Sep 13, 2018

The Children Act stages the clumsiness of belated domestic confrontations with the very coldness that’s kept its characters from having discussed their emotions for decades and from having had sex for almost a year. Read full review

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User Reviews

GreatMartin

Sep 28, 2018

It is not surprising to see a mesmerizing, completely involved performance by Emma Thompson as a British judge who is an expert in family in “The Children Act” law nor is there any question that in any movie Stanley Tucci would do a solid job, here as the judge’s husband of 20 years but doesIt is not surprising to see a mesmerizing, completely involved performance by Emma Thompson as a British judge who is an expert in family in “The Children Act” law nor is there any question that in any movie Stanley Tucci would do a solid job, here as the judge’s husband of 20 years but does the name Fionn Whitehead ring a bell? Until I just looked up his credits and even after that I didn’t recognize him or the name as the young man who played the protagonist in last year’s “Dunkirk”.

Whitehead, a 21-year-old, plays a 17 year 9-month-old Jehovah Witness with leukemia whose parents will not allow him to get a transfusion that could save his life. Being under the age of 18 he is not considered an adult and therefore has no say in the decision. This is an actor and a face I won’t forget again and the superb performance he gives with and opposite Thompson!

Aside from being about the judge who acts as the protector, agent and guardian who follows the British Children Act of 1989 we also see the price of a person who has to decide life or death constantly in her private life.

The thrust of the story is really the repercussions after the major decision is made. We also see the workings behind the courts and how a clerk, played by Jason Watkins, has many duties to perform so that all runs smoothly being important to the judge, the court and the law. As the parents of Whitehead, Ben Chaplin and Eileen Walsh don’t get as much time as they should but impress with a decision, no matter whom their God is, parents have to make.

The film, written by Ian McEwan, based on his novel, is an adult drama, a courtroom story, about moral responsibility, love, intimacy and, at points, heart rendering. The direction of Richard Eyre is felt in a number of key scenes though both the writer and director, in small ways, don’t ring true.

“The Children Act” is a must-see film not only due to the performances of Emma Thompson and Fionn Whitehead but also being a picture not heard about that should be making a lot of noise.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

DawdlingPoet

Nov 22, 2021

In a sense this films themes are about realising what you've lost, whats been ignored, in the important things in life - love and companionship. Its quite a thought provoking film. I have read the short story its based on and so I knew roughly what to expect and I'd assumed it would be quiteIn a sense this films themes are about realising what you've lost, whats been ignored, in the important things in life - love and companionship. Its quite a thought provoking film. I have read the short story its based on and so I knew roughly what to expect and I'd assumed it would be quite a depressing watch but in a way it was actually, perhaps equally uplifting (thanks to the great performance by the teenage boy) and that came as a pleasant surprise. Emma Thompson also gives a decent performance - I very much believed her character was emotionally affected by the case this film centres on.

It is somewhat sentimental and perhaps mildly cheesy but I wouldn't say its unrealistic or mired down in artificiality. I would recommend this film, yes.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

moviemitch96

Sep 28, 2018

A rather simple yet well-made film. As expected, Emma Thompson gives an outstanding performance. The film raises some intriguing questions about faith, morality, etc. but also feels somewhat simple and pedestrian with how the story was told at times. Overall, it's certainly worth a watch dueA rather simple yet well-made film. As expected, Emma Thompson gives an outstanding performance. The film raises some intriguing questions about faith, morality, etc. but also feels somewhat simple and pedestrian with how the story was told at times. Overall, it's certainly worth a watch due mostly in thanks to Thompson's compelling lead erformance.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JLuis_001

Jan 12, 2021

Emma Thompson delivers a solid performance in a drama that in my opinion succumbs too much to sentimentality despite its cold aura.

There's the moral dilemma, but the film explores very little of it, and is content to be just a confrontational melodrama.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

CityOfGeek

Dec 9, 2018

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. One of three McEwan adaptations this year (see elsewhere for my thoughts about one of the others, On Chesil Beach), The Children Act doesn’t really make an impression. (Can’t believe it’s been ten years since Atonement blew everyone away). Emma Thompson stars as a UK judge who rules on tough cases based around children’s rights – particularly ones with the parents and the law disagreeing. The focus decision and the fall-out from it in the film is based around whether Jevohah’s Witness parents can refuse their 17 year old’s life-saving transfusion. It’s odd in this decision is made pretty quickly into the film, leaving Thompson to puddle along afterwards. There isn’t much drama to drive the film. Thompsons’ judge is a bit weary and over worked, and there are marriage tensions between Thompson and Stanley Tucci, but there is little spark between them to make us care. The 17 year old tries to be a part of her life, his eyes opened to secular things after the transfusion (um.. spoilers?) but not enough time is given to him to truly care.

The Children Act plods along with little drama or tension. It feels lost. Without Thompson or Tucci this film would barely make a blip in the feature pond.

D+… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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