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Edward II (1992)

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All Critics
Top Critics

100

Average Rating: 7.6/10
Reviews Counted: 8
Fresh: 8 | Rotten: 0

No consensus yet.

No Reviews Yet...

Release Date: Mar 20, 1992 Limited

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Average Rating: 3.6/5
User Ratings: 1,135

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Movie Info

Two years before director Derek Jarman died of AIDS, he directed this extremely ambitious variation on Christopher Marlowe's 16th-century play. While Marlowe is the root of this film, Jarman has taken a great deal of leeway with the manner of presentation. The story revolves around King Edward's open homosexuality, which eventually led to his murder and succession. Instead of lush historical settings, the film uses bare walls and dirt floors and puts the cast into smart suits. This "staginess"

R, 1 hr. 31 min.

Drama

Directed By: Derek Jarman

Written By: Ken Butler, Christopher Marlowe, Derek Jarman, Stephen McBride

In Theaters: Mar 20, 1992 Limited

On DVD: Jun 14, 2005

Cast

Steven Waddington
Edward II
Andrew Tiernan
Piers Gaveston
Tilda Swinton
Queen Isabella
Nigel Terry
Mortimer
Kevin Collins
Lightborn-the Janitor
Jerome Flynn
Kent
Dudley Sutton
Bishop of Winchester
John Lynch
Spencer
Jody Graber
Prince Edward
Annie Lennox
Singer
Christopher Adamson
Thug
Jill Balcon
Chorus of Nobility
Dinah Beamish
Elektra Quartet Member
Daniel Bevan
Youth
Andrew Lee Bolton
Masseur
Abigail Brown
Elektra Quartet Member
Andrew Charleson
Chorus of Nobility
Nigel Charnock
Dancer
Barry John Clarke
Man with Snake
Alan Corduner
Poet
Kim Dare
Wild Girl
Giles de Montigny
Soldier of the Guard
Robb Dennis
Soldier of the Guard
John Henry Duncan
Altar Boy
Danny Earl
Thug
Renee Eyre
Sexy Girl
Tony Forsyth
Captive Policeman
Ian Francis
Youth
David Glover
Chorus of Nobility
Roger Hammond
Bishop of York
Andy Jeffrey
Sailor
Chris McHallem
Thug
Andrea Miller
Chorus of Nobility
Sharon Munro
Sexy Girl
Barbara New
Chorus of Nobility
Lloyd Newson
Dancer
James Norton
Youth
Kristina Overton
Wild Girl
Jocelyn Pook
Elektra Quartet Member
John Quentin
Chorus of Nobility
Liz Ranken
Sexy Girl
Trevor Skingle
Gym Instructor
Sonia Slany
Elektra Quartet Member
Johnathan Stables
Soldier of the Guard
Kate Temple
Seamstress
Tristam V. Cones
Youth
Christopher Hobbs
Equery
David Oliver
Thug
Michael Watkins
Soldier of the Guard
Mark Davis
Sailor
Sandy Powell
Seamstress
Brian Mitchell
Chorus of Nobility

Critic Reviews for Edward II

All Critics (14) | Top Critics (5) | Fresh (8) | Rotten (0) | DVD (2)

impossible to forget

June 21, 2005 Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com

| Comment

Don Willmott

Filmcritic.com

Jarman's adaptation of Christopher Marlowe's [play] still resonates, but more from its depiction of power-at-any-cost than bold representation of homosexual love and culture.

November 12, 2004 Full Review Source: JWR

| Comment

S. James Wegg

JWR

Bares its anger at the ongoing repressive and homophobic nature of the Thatcher British government.

April 6, 2004 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews

| Comment

Dennis Schwartz

Ozus' World Movie Reviews

A highly styized screen version of Christopher Marlowe's 14th century drama

July 19, 2003 Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice

| Comment

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

Spirituality and Practice

Weird, fascinating, and not for everyone

August 21, 2002 Comment

Ken Hanke

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Edward II

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I hate that when there are no critics reviews listed, that Flixster just gives it a critical rating of 100%. How annoying! Basically, this movie is a mess that is probably better on stage but a mess moviewise.

September 15, 2009

Sunil Jawahir

Super Reviewer

This is a very strange movie (mostly for art direction reasons). Anyway, it did make me want to learn more about Edward II. I don't know if I can reccomend this, but Tilda Swinton looks beautiful in every one of her scenes. Umm...Yeah...

March 3, 2007

Emily Tsyvia

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