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Last month, we got our first look at the upcoming J.R.R. Tolkien biopic titled Tolkien. Covering the formative years of the renowned author’s life, I felt the teaser came off a bit formulaic and full of Hollywood cliches. This longer trailer leaves me with basically that same impression.
I won’t deny the talent going into this film, because everyone seems to be giving it their all. Nicholas Hoult is a reasonable facsimile of a younger Tolkien and Lilly Collins is certainly excited about presenting the film, but nothing really clicks. This looks like every other biopic ever made and likely embellishes the truth at every corner for dramatic effect. I’m already finding it hard to believe that not only did every moment with Tolkien’s friends shape Lord of the Rings but that they all dropped words that would eventually become the titles of his works.
Maybe Tolkien’s life really was that straightforward, but I’m inclined to think differently. At any rate, the film will be out in a few short months and we’ll be able to tell for ourselves.
