MrFilmic Review of The Journey

The Journey (III) (2016)

One journey for two million lives - A real gem of a movie

[9/10 · 30 March 2017]

This is a remarkably well written film. That it is fictionalised, based on real events and real people, is a testament to the skill of not only the writing but all the performances and direction. Both leads, Colm Meaney and Timothy Spall, as McGuiness and Paisley respectively, are particularly excellent and both subtly understated and at the same time the very heartbeat of the film. Toby Stephens captures Blair's flippancy, mannerisms and that loathsome, grinny "Blairite" smile to a tee! Given the subject matter, the Northern Ireland peace talks of 2006, this is one of the funniest scripts of the year. Although the specific conversations on the "Journey" of the title may be imagined, one is left with a feeling that there is some truth or sense of inevitability as to what their conversations with each other must have covered. Less than 24 hours after seeing it, I'm already awaiting the theatrical release so I can take anyone who loves good film making with me!