Odelecol
Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.
Nayan Gough
A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.
Francene Odetta
It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.
Leofwine_draca
DEFENCE OF THE REALM is a solid and engaging little British conspiracy thriller with much in common with Hollywood cinema. Sure, it's lower budgeted than those kind of films, and certain key scenes (like a plane crash) are excised through lack of funds to shoot them which makes it feel a little choppy in places. But this variously reminded me of the likes of THE CONVERSATION, ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN, and even the recent Oscar-winner SPOTLIGHT in its positing of dedicated journalists fighting against an oppressive and unseen foe.The film features Gabriel Byrne in his breakthrough role as a dedicated young journalist investigating a spy plot involving a government minister. The plot twists and turns throughout and I don't really want to say anything about it as that would spoil it. However, it's complex stuff and this is the kind of film that deserves, no, requires full attention, otherwise the viewer might be left feeling confused. There are fine suspense scenes, good twists, and lots of moments of creeping unease. The strong supporting cast includes roles for Robbie Coltrane, Denholm Elliott (particularly fine), Greta Scacchi, Fulton Mackay, Ian Bannen, and Bill Paterson.
Oslo Jargo (Bartok Kinski)
*** This review may contain spoilers *** *Plot and ending analyzed*Defense of the Realm isn't too bad, I think it is an interesting film with a premise that is very obscure. If you can understand some of the low-audible dialogue and the heavy-handed British lingo, then it's a worthwhile film. Defense of the Realm has newspaper reporter Gabriel Byrne digging up muck in England, where a Member of Parliament gets thrashed and eventually dismissed for supposedly associating with a KGB agent. It's hard to follow at times and the ending is a big let-down because during the entirety of the film there was an enigmatic suspense that was really showing itself. Still, it does manage to bring enough closure to allow for the full critique of the American nuclear program abroad, which is staffed by lunatics. As a political thriller is should satisfy the basic audience.Also recommended: The Parallax View (1974) Three Days of the Condor (1975) The Conversation (1974) All the President's Men (1976) Telefon (1977)
thinker1691
Democratic governments are said to work in the public interest. All well and good. However, when that government decides to work in secret, then it becomes an enemy, not only to the people it purports to work for, but is contrary to the spirit of democracy. This is the premise to this film entitled " Defense of the Realm." In this story, our hero Nicholas Mullen (Gabriel Byrne) is an inquisitive newspaper reporter who stumbles across a sensitive story involving the cover-up murder of a school boy. The lad's death is hushed up by government authorities and involves a prominent cabinet official. The case is ultra secret so that when a Parliament official seeks to inquire into the death of the school boy, those who want to keep it from being re-opened, first seek to scandalize him, then discredit the first newsman who helps him, then anyone else who gets involved. After his colleague is found dead, Mullen takes up the challenge of exposing his friend's murder and soon finds himself threatened, then targeted for assassination. The movie is stark drama and with the aid of exceptional actors like Denholm Elliott, Ian Bannen and Robbie Coltrane produces an exciting and heart thumping atmosphere. A fine film and highly recommended as a late night thriller. Excellent! ****
LCShackley
According to IMDb, this movie was released in the USA in November of 1986, but I honestly don't recall hearing about it. I was drawn to it on cable this past week because it was a thriller and had a good cast; it was not a disappointment, but also not a classic.Gabriel Byrne holds the film together well as a journalist who ventures into dangerous waters whilst writing an expose of a supposedly corrupt politician (Ian Bannen). The supporting cast do a wonderful job, with a few observations: 1) Were some of Robbie Coltrane's scenes cut? His character comes and goes randomly. 2) Greta Scacchi doesn't really sizzle in this film as she has in others. 3) Even Oliver Ford Davies, who barely has a line, still impresses by his bureaucratic aura! This is one of the few 80s electronic film scores that I've heard recently which hasn't totally driven me mad after 10 minutes. It falls more in line with Jarre's classic WITNESS score; unobtrusive but effective. The sets and locations are wonderful. But it's a little tiresome to find out that the "McGuffin" is all about sinister Americans with their nasty nukes. Is that the best the scriptwriter could do? When I heard the first American accent I knew the Yanks were in for another cinematic whipping. But all in all, a thriller worth watching, even though you may resent the abrupt, explosive ending.
