Rent Mr. Jones (2019)

Mr jones. - Mr. Jones review by AO

This is an interesting film looking at one of the great crimes of the 20th century and as we all know, there was plenty to choose from. The main lead, unwittingly stumbles (literally) over the 1930's famine, engineered in the Ukraine by Stalin's despotic policies. More of a political thriller than horror, the movie is about the then current politics between the USSR and the unsuspecting British. The film later hints that 'unsuspecting' isn't quite true and darker forces are afoot, all way above our heroes' head. The movie thankfully skimps on the full horror of what Stalin did, which is just as well. For those interested, the internet is a good source of official documentation but a warning, a strong stomach is definitely needed when seeing the gruesome photos.

An intelligent film about an appalling act which the Soviets tried not so much to brush under the carpet, but bury at the bottom of the ocean.

A powerful film about a man with integrity refusing to be told what to say - Mr. Jones review by Philip in Paradiso

In 1933, Gareth Jones is a young journalist from Wales who is known for having interviewed Adolf Hitler. He manages to get official permission to travel to the Soviet Union. Jones is restricted to Moscow but succeeds in travelling unofficially to the Ukraine: he has become convinced there is a government cover-up and conditions are very difficult there. Nothing, however, has prepared him for what he discovers, i.e. the extent and horror of the Holodomor, the Great Famine that has hit the Ukraine, including empty villages and starving people.

[See Wikipedia on the Ukrainian famine, which would have killed between 3.5 and 12 million people (according to a UN estimate, 7 to 10 million): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holodomor]

G Jones was a truly remarkable character, a bit idealistic, no doubt, devoted to the quest for the truth as part of his job as a journalist with principles. James Norton is very convincing as G Jones, and generally the acting is very good; the film succeeds in re-creating the atmosphere of 1930s Russia and Ukraine very well. You feel you are there, sharing in G Jones' nightmarish experience. What is also interesting is the reaction, back in the UK or in the USA, to G Jones' revelations regarding the Ukrainian famine.

This is a powerful film talking about one of the darkest aspects of J Stalin's rule. Some reviews, when the film came out, were very mixed and highly critical, implying that the film is conventional or dull. I disagree. It is moving and profound in more ways than one. I would certainly recommend it, all the more so if you are interested in the history of the 20th century, but not only.

The Ukrainian famine is not talked about so much outside the country. And G Jones would deserve to be better known: his tragically short life was, in fact, centred on his fight against what we now call 'fake news', which is not a new phenomenon at all.

Moving Film based on Courageous Journalist - Mr. Jones review by CD

I was impressed by this film. 1930s Russia is an interesting backdrop and the acting is generally excellent. The part of the film in the Ukraine is quite shocking and memorable. The script-writer does a good job in linking up to real life events and the end is well done. There are also some interesting asides to George Orwell and Animal Farm. I'd certainly recommend to others.

No subtitles - Mr. Jones review by PJB

As with previous reviewer, I would have loved to have watched this film but I am one of substantial minority of people with hearing loss who are dependent on subtitles.

This is 2020 surely the production company can produce the DVD in Blue-ray wide screen with a choice of sound systems but no subtitles. Shame on you and no sympathy if you lose money and get poor reviews.

Excellent Historical Drama - Mr. Jones review by GI

A heartfelt and well intentioned historical drama based on a true story. Set in the early 1930s it tells the story of a humble Foreign Office advisor, Gareth Jones (James Norton) who travels to Moscow to interview Stalin about the USSR's claims of an economic boom. Once there he slips his soviet 'minders' and travels south where he witnesses the state induced famine which is killing millions. The Soviets do their utmost to discredit him and what he eventually reports. This is a story of heroism and has elements of espionage and taut thriller to it. Norton gives a strong performance as the committed welshman who refuses to kowtow to pressure to change his story. The film begins a bit slowly but once Jones is ensconced in Russia the film takes on a survival narrative, with some haunting and quite shocking scenes, and then it picks up even further once he's back in England and attempting to get the Government to believe him. Vanessa Kirby co-stars and there's support too from Peter Sarsgaad, Joseph Mawle (as George Orwell) and Kenneth Cranham as Lloyd George. An entertaining and very interesting film telling the tale of an unsung hero, indeed he's something of a welsh legend. A film that is well worth an evening's watch.

Very disappointed - Mr. Jones review by AR

Very disappointed to find that there were no subtitles for this. Yes, I should have checked the ‘Available formats’ information  before selecting but is it really too much to ask, with the technology available today, for new films all to be provided with subtitles? My rating for the film is not based on its content  but on its lack of accessibility. 

Flawed but Important Film about a Great British Welsh Journalist who Exposed Famine in 1930s Ukraine - Mr. Jones review by PV

This film badly needs:

1) an option for subtitles and the sound and mumbling make them necessary. Odd not to have that option.

2) to be edited - one could easily cut out 20-30 minutes of film flab here. There is no need at all for anything about George Orwell, whose clunky shoe-horned in appearance here jars - and anyway, Animal Farm was written much later in 1945, and not specifically about the Holodomor in Ukraine in 1930s which killed 3-5 million from starvation, thanks to Stalin's need to export grain to invest in industry and buy foreign goods. It is about the creation of the USSR, and a parable.

As so often in films these days, there is a requirement to shoe-horn women into the story and push them forward, even though they were not part of the real-life story. It stinks of gimmick when they do that. I cannot find evidence Gareth Jones ever had a girlfriend or fellow female journalists in Russia. The Anglo-American Walter Duranty is all too real and reptilian with it too (though in real life he had more than a limp - he lost a leg after a train crash in France) - most think he deliberately covered up the Ukraine famine to kowtow to Stalin, as the New York Times main man in Moscow. Probably true.

David Lloyd George was Prime Minister 1916-22. Not in 1933 which this film seems to claim. he was a maginalised spent force by the 1930s really.

Gareth Jones was a great journalist, and a master linguist, whose life was ended when he was very young (no spoilers, watch the film to the end to find out his fate, possibly on Stalins orders as revenge for what he did here). He should have a statue in Wales - it is a disgrace he does not when other lesser people and pc boxtickers do. He has a plaque at Aberystwyth uni only.

The scenes in Ukraine are superb and shocking. Not to mention timely. The film can be a bit worthy and plodding, which a quick cut of the unnecessary bits would sort wonderfully.

4 stars., Important as a film but flawed.